Overview
ISO 5472:2022 - Healthcare organization management - Pandemic response (respiratory) - Walk-through screening station (WTSS) specifies the operation of walk-through screening stations for mass testing as part of pandemic response management. Developed from COVID‑19 experience (notably practices used in South Korea), the standard describes WTSS concepts, four WTSS types (open, negative pressure, positive pressure, adaptable pressure), and the end‑to‑end screening process for rapid, safe specimen collection and notification.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and purpose: Operation of WTSS for mass testing during respiratory pandemics; COVID‑19 is given as an exemplary disease.
- WTSS types:
- Open WTSS (outdoor/natural ventilation)
- Negative pressure WTSS (prevents air leakage to adjacent spaces)
- Positive pressure WTSS (protects the occupant from external contaminants)
- Adaptable pressure booths (switchable airflow direction)
- Screening process steps: Registration, medical examination, specimen collection, storage of collected specimens, and notification of test results. The standard emphasizes lawful, minimal personal data collection during registration.
- Ventilation and filtration: WTSS design addresses airflow management and ventilation; it references HEPA filtration (HEPA defined in the document as a retentive matrix with a minimum 99.97% efficiency for 0.3 µm particles) and negative/positive pressure control to reduce cross‑infection risk.
- Infection control measures: Procedures for disinfection, PPE minimization through booth design, and reduction of post‑sampling disinfection/ventilation downtime.
- Operational considerations: Use of mobile vs fixed booths (mobile WTSS), specimen storage, and logistics for high‑throughput mass testing.
- Normative references: The document contains no normative references. It draws on related ISO terminology and experiences from pandemic practice.
Practical applications - who uses this standard
ISO 5472:2022 is intended for:
- Public health authorities and pandemic response planners
- Healthcare organization managers and infection control teams
- Hospital administrators and outpatient screening coordinators
- Designers and suppliers of testing booths (mobile and fixed) and negative pressurized medical containers (NPMC)
- Event organizers, airport/transport authorities, and emergency response units implementing mass testing
Use cases include rapid community testing centers, airport entry screening, large‑event screening, hospital triage diversion, and mobile testing deployments.
Related standards and references
- The document was prepared by ISO/TC 304 (Healthcare organization management).
- Related ISO documents referenced in the standard’s definitions include ISO 15190:2020 (laboratory safety) and ISO 13408‑1:2008 (HEPA definition), and ISO/PAS 45005:2020 for pandemic context.
Keywords: ISO 5472:2022, WTSS, walk-through screening station, pandemic response, mass testing, negative pressure booth, positive pressure booth, HEPA filter, specimen collection, COVID‑19.
Open preview (PDF)Healthcare organization management — Pandemic response (respiratory) — Walk-through screening station
