52 labs contacted as Government seeks to expand COVID-19 testing
/ Our Today
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The Ministry of Health and Wellness has collaborated with the Jamaica National Agency for Accreditation, in an effort to expand COVID-19 testing, by contacting 52 laboratories to participate in the inter-lab comparison by the National Public Health Lab.
“Of that number, 14 have been non-responsive, two were previously approved with another three recently approved, and by Friday, December 4, 2021, we are hoping to have another seven labs complete the inter-lab comparison with a view to being approved,” Dr Christopher Tufton, minister of health and wellness, said as he delivered a statement to the House of Representatives on Tuesday.
Tufton said that 18 testing site could be fully operational within the next 10 days if there is there is timely return of samples and resultant success in the inter-lab comparison.
TESTING URGED TO SUBMIT RESULTS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
“We encourage the testing sites that are engaged to submit the test panel results as soon as possible. At the same time, the Ministry is encouraging the use of testing kits approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and World Health Organization (WHO). These test kits are also subject to review and approval by the Ministry,” the health minister said.
In the meantime, Tufton said the Government was in support of expanding the number of test kits available on the market.
He urged private entities to apply to the standards and regulations division of the Ministry for approval to import from the pool of 30 WHO/FDA-approved test kits that are now available.
“Once those test kits meet the standards of the FDA, including self-administered kits, we will quickly process and validate and allow permission and permits to import,” Tufton added.
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