COVID-19 testing lab in Siem Reap province put into use

COVID-19 testing lab in Siem Reap province put into use

The Ministry of Health has put into official use a laboratory for COVID-19 testing in Siem Reap province – the move that will broaden the access in the zone, beyond the provincial boundary.​ ​

The inauguration ceremony took place in Siem Reap provincial city Monday.

The lab will help speed up the process of COVID-19 testing for Cambodians and foreigners visiting the areas, without sending specimens for testing in Phnom Penh anymore.

The second standard laboratory of Cambodia is equipped with GeneXpert recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

GeneXpert provides a point-of-care option allowing hospital and clinic to perform diagnostic tests in-house, rather than sending them to an outside lab.

The ministry is also planning to establish COVID-19 testing laboratories in other provinces of Cambodia such as Battambang and Kampong Cham, said Kros Sarath, Director of Siem Reap Provincial Health Department.

As of this morning, there are in total 225 confirmed cases in Cambodia, including 147 Cambodians, 40 French, 13 Malaysians, Seven Indonesians, Five British, Four Americans, Three Chinese, Three Vietnamese, Two Canadians, and a Belgian. Of them, 147 or 65.33 percent have recovered. C. Nika – AKP