Dear SASREG member

Several major hospital groups have recently abolished the routine COVID-19 testing prior to surgery. 

The arguments to stop this are: 

  • An increasing proportion of patients attending our facilities have been vaccinated.
  • A staff complement which Is almost entire vaccinated.
  • The reduced mortality and morbidity rate with the Omicron variant. 
  • The ready availability of both RT-PCR testing and “rapid” antigen testing if necessary. 
  • The very low anaesthetic risk to an asymptomatic Covid positive patient. 
  • The need to “live with” SARS-COV-2 for the foreseeable future.

For these reasons, SASREG no longer recommends mandatory COVID-19 testing for asymptomatic patients before OPU. The clinician can still request a test whenever there is any indication. It is recommended to discuss the consequences of COVID-19 for fertility treatment and pregnancy with the patients.

Yours sincerely,

Dr Sulaiman Heylen