Testing centre hits 100k milestone

A NHS lab, where countless Renfrewshire people have had their Covid-19 samples tested, has surpassed the 100,000 test milestone.

The West of Scotland Specialist Virology Centre was launched at the start of February and has increased its capacity for testing tenfold since the start of the pandemic four months ago.

The service, run by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, is based at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

Arwel Williams, the health board’s director of diagnostic and regional services, said staff at the centre adopted different ways of working and took on longer hours to ensure the increased testing capacity.

He said: “As well as processing results for our own patients, they have assisted other boards, both in carrying out testing and assisting them to set up their own testing regimes.

“Due to their commitment, they have ensured that our testing capacity was greater than the demand for testing from our hospitals at every stage of the pandemic.”

Initial capacity within the virology centre was for 250 tests per day, which has now grown to more than 3,000 tests per day.

To meet this demand, lab bosses have continuously introduced new equipment and processes to increase testing capacity.

“The contribution of the virology team cannot be underestimated,” Arwel added.

“The covid pandemic has been the biggest challenge of our careers and they have risen to this immense task.

“Quite simply, this increase in testing capacity has helped keep patients and staff safe.”

The Glasgow Lighthouse lab, which is separate to the virology centre, has also been carrying out Covid-19 tests for the health board.