The recent community cases of COVID-19 have caused a huge surge in demand for molecular SARS-CoV-2 testing, approximately 1000 tests per day locally over the past couple of days.
Other microbiology and molecular requests need to be urgently reduced to free up staff and preserve reagents and consumables for this COVID-19 testing. We would ask that all routine microbiology testing is minimised as much as possible. Please note the following in particular:
MOLECULAR (please note that all non-COVID-19 molecular testing will potentially impact on our turnaround times for SARS-CoV-2 testing, as well as using up molecular reagents)
Please note the turnaround times for non-COVID molecular tests will be prolonged.
BACTERIOLOGY/MYCOLOGY (Reduction in routine bacteriology/mycology testing will free up staff to assist with SARS-CoV-2 testing in the molecular department)
These changes in requesting should be implemented immediately. Thank you for your understanding and assistance at this time. We will send out a further update when COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2 testing volumes settle down.
A reminder too please that test request forms required to be forward to Pathlab after a virtual consult, to please use the dedicated email address requestforms@pathlab.co.nz
With face-to-face appointments, the form can be given to the patient to bring with them.