With the opening today of a molecular biology laboratory at the Roberto Rodríguez hospital, in the municipality of Morón, in Ciego de Ávila , Cuba brings to 12 facilities of this type that process samples for the detection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, in as well as three others enlist in Holguín , Matanzas and Isla de la Juventud.
José Ángel Portal Miranda, Cuban Minister of Public Health, highlighted during the inauguration the importance of this unit, both for the province and for neighboring territories, and for the processing of samples from all tourists who arrive at the northern keys.
He highlighted the quality and value of the installed technology , as well as the preparation of the personnel, which allows for much faster diagnoses and opens up treatment opportunities, both for COVID-19, and for other infectious diseases .
Portal Miranda praised the design and characteristics of the work and urged to ensure the quality of the processes and biosecurity for the protection of workers.
Dr. Vivian Kourí, deputy director of the Pedro Kourí Institute of Tropical Medicine (IPK), in the opening remarks recalled how, given the increase in positive cases in SARS-CoV-2 , new laboratories were enabled , both in the capital of the country and in other provinces.
Dr. Vivian Kourí, deputy director of the Pedro Kourí Institute of Tropical Medicine (IPK). Photo: Osvaldo Gutiérrez Gómez / ACN.
She specified that the training of the personnel working in the Avilanian laboratory was in charge of experts from IPK and Villa Clara , and today the first 40 samples were processed here, a figure that should be progressively increased.
Tatiana Artiles Herrera, specialist in clinical laboratory, at the head of the facility, explained that initially they will process samples from the isolation areas of Ciego de Ávila using PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) tests .
She explained that as of the incorporation, in the coming days, of automated extraction equipment, the number of PCRs will rise, with samples from other nearby provinces.
The inauguration of the center was attended by Carlos Luis Garrido Pérez and Tomás Alexis Venegas, president and vice president, respectively, of the Provincial Defense Council.