News

COVID-19 testing machine installed in ADK Hospital

ADK Hospital has announced a COVID-19 testing machine has been installed in the hospital.

ADK Hospital announced a Polymerised Chain Reaction (PCR) machine used to test for COVID-19 and SARS has been brought and installed in the hospital. ADK said the machine will significantly boost the COVID-19 testing capacity of the Maldives.

Currently, COVID-19 tests in the Maldives are conducted through 3 PCR machines at Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) and a PCR machine at the forensic laboratory of Maldives Police Service (MPS). While the machines conduct a total of 400-500 tests on a daily basis, the government plans to increase testing capacity to 1000 tests per day. As part of the efforts to boost testing capacity, the government has announced an additional PCR machine will be brought to the Maldives within the next week.

Furthermore, the government has also announced arrangements are being made to establish testing facilities in 5 regions of the Maldives. The government plans to bring in 25,000 cartridges to be used for COVID-19 testing through GeneXpert machines established in regional hospitals, which are currently used to test for Tuberculosis.