Dr Ton That Thanh, Director of the Da Nang Centre for Disease Control (CDC), announced on Tuesday said that his unit is completing necessary procedures for asking permission from the Ministry of Health to conduct tests for the novel coronavirus (Covid-19).

A staff member from the municipal Centre for Disease Control preparing for taking samples of suspected patients

Dr Thanh affirmed that CDC has enough medical facilities and human resources to be able to conduct coronavirus testing.

In particular, the unit’s laboratory met biosafety requirements in 2019. Also, molecular biology laboratory features 3 separate rooms for reaction solution mixing, RNA extraction, and PCR machines.

In addition, CDC boasts qualified and experienced staff with 12 specialised equipment for testing samples of infectious diseases.

“Recently, some staff members from CDC have attended a training course on laboratory testing for the new virus” Dr Thanh noted.

He also remarked that his centre is waiting for appraisal results from the Nha Trang Pasteur Institute, then will submit them to the Ministry of Health for approval.

It is expected that CDC will be allowed to conduct tests for the virus in early March after getting approval from the Ministry of Health.

Dr Thanh said that, under the current process, the samples of suspected cases will be sent to the Nha Trang Pasteur Institute to test for the virus. Due to geographical distance and increasing number of samples, the results are often back in between 48 hours and 72 hours, even longer. Delays in receiving results will cause difficulties for the city to promptly provide treatment for possible infected cases.

According to the latest report released by the Ministry of Health, about 30 labs across the country are able to conduct coronavirus testing.

Among these labs are the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology in Ha Noi, the Pasteur Institutes in Ho Chi Minh City and Nha Trang, the Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology of the Central Highlands in Dak Lak Province, and the National Institute of Malariology, Parasitology and Entomology in Ha Noi.

Besides, disease control centres in Ha Noi, Quang Ninh, Thanh Hoa, Bac Ninh, Bac Giang, Da Nang, Ha Tinh and Lao Cai are also able to perform coronavirus testing.

By PHAN CHUNG - Translated by MAI DUNG