Sections of the National Public Health Reference Laboratory (NPHRL) are awaiting certification so that additional testing for COVID-19 can be done there, according to Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony.
Anthony told Stabroek News that the ministry is now at the point of trying to have an expert from Canada come to the country to certify the set up at the laboratory in order to clear the use of additional Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) machines.
“We have to wait on the technician from Canada to come in to be able to certify those cabinets. We have the cabinets [and] everything in place but we need a certification,” Anthony said while adding that in addition to certifying the biohazard cabinets at the NPHRL, the technician will also be certifying the same at private laboratories.
Anthony added that the logistics are currently being worked out as it relates to flights and flight scheduling to have the technician in the country. “So we expect that that would happen shortly, so all the other arrangements are in place. It’s just making sure that, you know, they can fly in whatever timeframe,” he said.
The minister reiterated that testing has significantly increased since August even though one machine is still being used. He also noted that there are currently about 35,000 test kits in stock.
“We continue to have one PCR machine that is working but we’re working with three shifts, we have two other machines that are there,” he said while adding that the certification needs to be done before those machines are put to use and the lab’s capacity is increased.
