New laboratory for testing
Medlab Central is prepared for the next surge of Covid-19 testing, with a new molecular laboratory set up at its base at Palmerston North Hospital.
Medlab operations manager Herman Venter has overseen the $250,000 transformation of a space leased from the Midcentral District Health Board for the Covid-19 testing team.
The new laboratory has enabled testing to be moved from Massey University, where it was hastily set up in April in a laboratory geared up for mycoplasma bovis testing at the Hopkirk Institute.
Venter said the availability of the Ag Research facilities allowed Medlab to respond urgently to provide testing for Midcentral, Whanganui and Gisborne when it became impossible to fly samples to the South Island and get timely results.
‘‘It’s been hugely appreciated, as it has taken us five months to make the changes at the hospital.’’
Space had been freed up because some Medlab staff who worked from home during the lockdown chose to carry on working remotely.
Medlab chief executive Cynric Temple-camp said the new laboratory was able to get test results out faster because it could run smaller batches.
A batch was full at 96 samples, whereas earlier it was most efficient to wait until there was a batch of 270 ready.
Laboratory team leader Rebecca Lucas-roxburgh said the laboratory was processing about 150 tests a day, down from more than 2024 on its busiest day during the Auckland coronavirus resurgence.
The laboratory had a fast-test option for single high-priority samples, which could provide a result within an hour. It had been used a few dozen times.
Venter said the new laboratory had capacity to be able to provide testing for other centres, possibly Auckland, when the next surge in cases occurred.
Lucas-roxburgh and the usual team of four staff in the labora
‘‘It’s been hugely appreciated, as it has taken us five months to make the changes at the hospital.’’
Herman Venter Medlab operations manager
tory were enjoying the return to more normal working hours after having to work largely after hours at Massey.
Microscopes and petri dishes are absent from the new-style lab, where testing is designed to hunt for RNA rather than grow or inspect for organisms.
Incoming samples are inactivated, cleaned of other matter, and the coating of any virus burst open to expose the RNA.
The air pressure system and extractor fans meant staff were safe to work in lab coats and gloves, without the need for masks, visors and other personal protective equipment.
‘‘It’s safer in our lab than being in Auckland,’’ Venter said.
As well as detecting Covid-19, the molecular laboratory had potential to test for a range of other organisms, even markers in the blood that signalled the presence of cancers.
Midcentral medical officer of health Rob Weir is doing his best to keep the lab busy, urging people not to become complacent about the virus and to get tested if they had even mild symptoms.
The Main St testing site has opened up for drive-through access for people with mild symptoms without having to phone first for an appointment.
People with more serious symptoms should continue to phone Healthline or their GP clinic for advice.
Weir said maintaining high testing rates was key to maintaining confidence the virus was not present in the community.