As COVID-19 cases and deaths surge here, Eureka Medical Laboratories Inc (EML), is expected to commence novel coronavirus PCR testing by this weekend according to the Deputy Chief Medical Officer (DCMA) Dr Karen Gordon-Boyle.
Boyle made this disclosure during an interview with Stabroek News yesterday. She said that while the Ministry of Health currently has sufficient test kits, Eureka’s involvement will be a great help to the health sector.
A joint release yesterday from the Ministry of Health and Eureka said that the facility, which is the first of its kind in Guyana, offers daily in-house PCR COVID-19 testing, with results in 48 hours.
Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony welcomed the move by EML, which he said will serve to support Government’s efforts.
Two new machines were purchased by EML the release said — the QuantStudio 5 and the Kingfisher Flex — which allow for testing and analyzing of up to 1,000 samples per day with a guaranteed turnaround time of 48 hours for results.
“We are confident that we have covered all bases in preparation of the analysis and interpretation of results. Staff have undergone a 10-day theoretical training on PCR testing, as well as practical training via our overseas partners and a local expert in PCR training. Our team has also been trained in COVID-19 nasopharyngeal sample collection,” EML CEO, Andrew Boyle said.
The daily in-house PCR COVID-19 testing service will be launched at EML’s Thomas Street, George-town branch today with plans in place to expand and offer similar services at other branches in the future.
Other services to be launched today include house-call services in Georgetown and other parts of the coastal areas, as well as house-call services for places of employment and homes.
The release said that to utilize EML’s house-call services, persons may call their toll-free telephone numbers — 640-8378, 624-8378 or 608-8378 — and provide relevant information including address, contact number and medical history, along with the services required.
As it relates to the number of test kits in the country, Gordon-Boyle stated that the Ministry will acquire more when needed. She added that they are currently in the process of engaging the Pan American Health Organization about the rapid antigen diagnostic tests.
She emphasised that they will only use the PCR test for an official diagnosis but the antigen tests will be used in the hinterland locations as they usually have difficulties sending samples back to George-town. She added that this will only be used in emergency cases so that the patients can receive the care they need at a faster rate rather than having to wait for the results of a PCR test.
“It will be very good to use for screening tools so we will have that and if we are not sure, we will have the PCR as a backup,” she said.
Meanwhile, regarding the rapid antibody tests that were donated by the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) she had this to say, “Those are just being used as screening tests but [only being used) limitedly so for instance, if we a large pool of persons who are at high risk and we know that they’re from known cases we might use the them (the rapid antibody test) as a screening tool but we will not rely on those alone, we have to do the PCR test,’ she said.
