BVI’s main hospital the only authorised COVID testing facility
The Ministry of Health has issued a statement advising the public that the Dr D Orlando Smith Hospital in Road Town is the only facility authorised to conduct COVID-19 PCR testing and antigen testing in the BVI at this time.
This advisory was issued against the backdrop that the hospital undergoes continuous proficiency testing through the America College of Pathologists.
“The hospital has undergone validation exercises over a period of several months and the testing process has been developed and reviewed in conjunction with the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA),” Acting Chief Medical Office Dr Ronald Georges stated.
He further said reference samples are typically sent to CARPHA and other laboratories for quality control.
Samples were sent to CARPHA for reference testing and genetic typing just last week and those results are expected this week.
“The Ministry of Health continues to work with the Public Health England laboratory and virology sections to analyse data and determine any revision of algorithms required as we deal with the current outbreak,” Dr Georges said.
“While a positive result may indicate the presence of viral RNA or non-viable fragments, the interpretation relies on the lab values and the clinical and epidemiological information,” he added.
“The hospital has undergone validation exercises over a period of several months and the testing process has been developed and reviewed in conjunction with the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA),” Acting Chief Medical Office Dr Ronald Georges stated.
He further said reference samples are typically sent to CARPHA and other laboratories for quality control.
Samples were sent to CARPHA for reference testing and genetic typing just last week and those results are expected this week.
“The Ministry of Health continues to work with the Public Health England laboratory and virology sections to analyse data and determine any revision of algorithms required as we deal with the current outbreak,” Dr Georges said.
“While a positive result may indicate the presence of viral RNA or non-viable fragments, the interpretation relies on the lab values and the clinical and epidemiological information,” he added.
