COVID-19 testing at the National Public Health Reference Laboratory can now be completed within 45 minutes, a drastic reduction from the previous eight-to-nine-hour-long process, Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony disclosed on Wednesday.
The National Public Health Reference Laboratory has started using the $7.2 million automated extractor which was donated by the People’s Republic of China. This has resulted in more samples being processed in a shorter time.
“I can tell you that we are now able to extract 96 samples within 45 minutes. Our processing time has gone up tremendously so we will be able to do more samples in the timeframe that we used to,” the Minister said during Wednesday’s COVID-19 update.
Another automated extractor, purchased by the Ministry, is being shipped to Guyana.
Photo caption: Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony
