NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis yesterday announced new processes to standardize COVID-19 diagnostic testing in the country.
Minnis said the changes will also reduce the time that data from testing is provided to the Ministry of Health’s Surveillance and Contact Tracing Units.
He explained faster processing times will decrease the risk of community spread due to delayed contact tracing, and ultimately minimize the spread of COVID 19 within the country.
“All laboratories providing COVID-19 tests will be required to be registered with the Ministry of Health,” he said.
“Each laboratory will be required to meet testing standards established by the Ministry of Health. Laboratories will also be subject to periodic cross-referencing to ensure quality control.”
Minnis continued: “Laboratories will be prohibited from administering the COVID 19 RT PCR test unless the patient provides all identifying particulars required by the Case Identification Form.
“Laboratories will now be required to turn around test results within a maximum of forty-eight hours.”
He said: “Going forward, the Ministry of Health and the laboratories will utilize various technology to ensure the timely receipt of testing data by the Ministry of Health’s Surveillance Team and Contact Tracing Unit.
The prime minister said he met with representatives of testing laboratories to discuss the new objectives and the planned action steps to achieve these objectives.
“The laboratories reaffirmed their commitment to collaborate with the Government on our strategy and plan to fight COVID-19,” he added.
“Let me also remind you: Our testing and contact-tracing regimes are key to our strategy to combat the virus.”
During his address, Minnis thanked the staff at the National Reference Laboratory and the efforts of contact tracers, whom he said have saved lives.
He said the national lab has led the way for testing since the beginning of the pandemic.
“We owe them our gratitude,” he said.
“On behalf of the entire Bahamas, I thank them for their dedication and tireless efforts. They are an example of the spirit of ‘we’.”
