National laboratory now working 24 hours to clear COVID backlog
Published:Friday | May 1, 2020 | 12:00 AM
The National Public Health Laboratory is now operating on a 24-hour schedule as it moves to clear a backlog of 400 samples for COVID testing.
On Monday, Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton reported that there was a backlog of around 600 samples which had been coming down “nicely”.
Two days later, Dr Michelle Hamilton, the director of services at the National Public Health Laboratory said about 400 samples were yet to be cleared.
She suggested that the backlog increased with the mass testing linked to the Alorica call centre workers and their related contacts.
“Initially when there was the surge, the number of samples that were being collected exceeded our capacity to test on any given day,” said the laboratory director.
However, Hamilton said with the new COBAS 6800 machines, Jamaica's COVID testing ability has been significantly boosted.
According to her, in short order, the backlog should be cleared and the team will be adequately able to test the incoming samples.
“It has been a time of increased activity and there are times when you feel the pressure of the work, but it has also been a wonderful time when it brings out the best,” Hamilton said.
She was speaking during a virtual Health Ministry press conference on Wednesday.
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