Sri Lanka passed the landmark of completing 50,000 PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) Tests by May 22nd and a total of 53,092 PCR Tests by May 23rd (last Saturday), Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi said.
According to Minister Wanniarachchi, at the moment Sri Lanka performs PCR Tests in 19 laboratories. There are four laboratories belonging to private hospitals and three laboratories belonging to Medical faculties among them. The highest number of PCR Tests, 16,059 had been performed at Medical Research Institute (MRI). At the moment a total of 3,000 PCR Tests can be performed in Sri Lanka in those 19 laboratories.
Minister Wanniarachchi pointed out that arrangements will be made soon to upgrade laboratory facilities in order to increase the capacity up to 6000. All these steps are being taken under the leadership of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa by Health Ministry Secretary Major General Sanjeewa Munasinghe and Health services Director General Dr. Anil Jasinghe along with health staff.
Sri Lanka planned conducting PCR Tests when COVID-19 was reported from Wuhan, China in December last year. The MRI was ready to perform the Tests by January this year. The PCR Testing facilities and the number of PCR Tests done within a day increased gradually according to the increase of the demand, she added.