The National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) is stepping up its efforts to fight the spread of the coronavirus by increasing the number of laboratories performing Covid-19 tests from next month from six to nine.
The NHLS has 18 state-of-the-art Cobas 6800 and 8800 machines that will dramatically improve the volumes that can be processed, as well as the turnaround time.
Chetty said the NHLS also has over 180 GeneXpert analysers, which will be available in all provinces for testing by April. She said the test kit for the GeneXpert was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration last week, and the company has started production. The test kits are due to arrive in April.
“The advantage, according to the supplier, is that tests can be processed in 45 minutes, and the smaller machines can be placed in mobile vehicles, which makes it ideal for community testing,” she said. She said it was a pity that this new test kit was not available sooner, as it would have made a huge difference in how testing is done.The six laboratories that are currently conducting tests are the NHLS National Institute for Communicable Diseases and Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital , Groote Schuur and Tygerberg hospitals , Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital and Universitas Hospital .
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Covid-19: Mercedes Benz SA announces cutback in operations due to Covid-19As with BMW and Ford, the company says the decision to suspend production is driven by a mix of health and business demands
Read more »
Netball SA president Cecilia Molokwane tests positive for Covid-19Netball South Africa (NSA) president Cecilia Molokwane has tested positive for Covid-19 after travelling abroad on 2023 World Cup business‚ the federation said in a statement on Tuesday.
Read more »
Netball SA boss Cecilia Molokwane tests positive for Covid-19Netball SA president Cecilia Molokwane has tested positive for the Covid-19 coronavirus after her recent business trips to the UK and Scotland, the organisation announced on Tuesday afternoon.
Read more »
SA mines to close for three weeks in Covid-19 battleMines say stringent measures are in place to protect employees from the coronavirus
Read more »
WATCH | SA announces 21-day lockdown over Covid-19South Africa will go into lockdown for three weeks from midnight on Thursday and will have to 'stay at home' until April 16.
Read more »
'This just got real': SA responds to Covid-19 lockdownThe coronavirus lockdown is here - and President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged South Africans to adhere to the new regulations.
Read more »