How labs in Nova Scotia are dealing with a COVID-19 testing backlog – CBC
A new testing instrument is on the way, and some samples could be frozen
May 02, 2021
Dr. Todd Hatchette knew something had to give the day 22,000 specimens arrived for COVID-19 testing.
“Temporary surges are manageable, but lab capacity cannot be increased at the flip of a switch,” he said.
Hatchette, the service chief for microbiology in the central zone of Nova Scotia’s health authority, told CBC News via email that a small backlog in the microbiology labs is typical. It’s the reason Nova Scotians are advised that their results might not be ready for up to 72 hours.
But that 22,000-specimen day, which came this past week, set things too far behind.
“That spike, and the potential those volumes could continue, led to the decision to refocus testing,” Hatchette said.
Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/nova-scotia-covid-microbiology-labs-backlog-1.6010785
