El laboratorio clínico en vinculación con la comunidad: una estrategia de prevención en salud en épocas de pandemia

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) played a vital role in mitigating the pandemic’s effects on their communities. This study examines the impact of a linkage project implemented by the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador Sede Esmeraldas (PUCESE), which utilized its clinical and molecular laboratory as a prevention and diagnostic strategy in the province of Esmeraldas. The initiative enabled the provision of timely diagnostic services, including rapid IgM and IgG antibody tests and RT-PCR tests for virus detection, thereby reducing the health crisis's impact in the region. Using a cross-sectional and descriptive approach, data from 5,359 beneficiaries who accessed diagnostic tests between June and December 2020 were analyzed. A team of 22 students, 9 teachers, and 26 administrative staff conducted rapid screenings and molecular tests for SARS-CoV-2, facilitating early diagnoses and timely isolation of cases. The findings revealed that 41% of rapid tests administered to men and 60% to women were negative, while molecular testing confirmed a positivity rate of 15.8% in men and 15.4% in women, with individuals aged 20 to 39 years being the most affected group. The project also included educational and prevention activities, contributing to the early detection of cases and the establishment of epidemiological containment measures. This model of community intervention proved to be an effective strategy for promoting public health, reducing health disparities, and supporting economic recovery in times of crisis.