Andina

Peru: Health Min inaugurates molecular laboratory for timely COVID-19 detection

Photo: ANDINA/Ministry of Health of Peru

Photo: ANDINA/Ministry of Health of Peru

14:35 | Lima, Jan. 29.

A new molecular biology laboratory, which will enable the timely detection of COVID-19 in Eastern Lima, was inaugurated on Friday by Health Minister Pilar Mazzetti, who stressed that this service will contribute to the precision of diagnoses for the control of the pandemic in this jurisdiction.

"The most important thing at this time is that we rely on plenty of precision in the diagnoses (…) the presence of a molecular biology laboratory here is not only for now, it is forever," she expressed.
 

"Now, we see the great advantage is that we have antigen tests, and here we have the tremendous capacity to do the swabbing and train primary care staff," she indicated.


"The current figures show a highly marked upward slope and we must all be aware of it, so that we take extreme care measures," she emphasized.

 
In addition to the measures that are already known —she continued— citizens must not forget to open windows for proper ventilation of spaces and avoid places where there is a risk of physical contact with objects and people.

"It is important to know that the time we stay outside is a danger," she said.

The molecular laboratory features a multidisciplinary team made up of two medical technicians, two clinical pathologists, a biologist, and a laboratory technician.

It also relies on two areas, one for receiving samples and the other for extraction of ribonucleic acid (RNA). It plans to process 1,500 samples per month —a number that will be increased progressively.
 
Minister Mazzetti also welcomed the efforts undertaken by the personnel of the National Health Institute (INS) as well as of the Laboratory and Public Health Office of the Directorates of Integrated Health Networks in Eastern Lima (DIRIS Lima Este), who were in charge of the implementation.


(END) NDP/RRC/MVB

Publicado: 29/1/2021