Hamad Medical Corporation’s daily laboratory capacity for Covid-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests will go up to 30,000 by the end of July from the current 20,000.

Hamad Medical Laboratories (HML) perform various tests to diagnose the coronavirus (Covid-19), including PCR and serological tests, each of which has its uses according to medical protocols. Head of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) Dr Einas al-Kuwari, in a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA) said that Hamad Medical Laboratories, under the umbrella of the HMC and the Ministry of Public Health, conducts all the coronavirus tests in Qatar.

HML has conducted at least 300,000 tests since the outbreak of the pandemic. The laboratories used to work at an operating capacity of 16% before the outbreak of the pandemic but they have been working round the clock at the current operating capacity of 100%, with the addition of male and female employees who were trained from various departments of medical laboratories and some other state institutions.

She also pointed out that Hamad Medical Laboratories worked hard to provide the latest and advanced technical devices to ensure speedy test results, but at the same time took into account quality and safety.

Since the start of the pandemic, the number of daily checks to detect coronavirus through the PCR method has increased by 75 times. Hamad Laboratories also provide serological tests to deliver rapid results within 10-15 minutes, other than serological tests which take more time, each according to the applicable medical protocol.

Dr Einas al-Kuwari announced the launch of two new laboratories by the Medical Laboratory Department of HMC. In addition to the main virus laboratory, two laboratories were opened to test the coronavirus at both the Communicable Diseases Center (CDC) and Hamad General Hospital, in order to meet the rising demand and to ensure that work continues uninterrupted under all circumstances.

There are also four laboratories dedicated to coronavirus tests, which perform PCR tests and is used for emergency and urgent cases. These tests take two hours, she said, adding that these laboratories are located in Hamad General Hospital, Al Khor Hospital, Al Wakra Hospital and the Cuban Hospital.

Source : Gulf Times

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