PCR tests will begin in the new Molecular Biology Laboratory at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) ll tomorrow (Monday 13), a Health Ministry spokesman said.
He said the laboratory set up by the Health Ministry to conduct PCR tests for those arriving from abroad. Until now, the samples to conduct PCR tests were done at the BIA from those arriving and the samples were sent to the laboratories in Colombo and the suburbs.
The reports were issued thereafter and the process took a long time.
Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi said that the new laboratory was set up to speed up the process on the direction of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The new laboratory was opened in 12 days with the support of the health staff.
The Health Ministry provided medical equipment worth Rs. 50 million for this new laboratory which can conduct 500 PCR tests daily.
The capacity of this new laboratory will be increased up to 1,000 PCR tests per day soon. A PCR test done outside costs Rs. 6,500, she added.