AsLab: Private Labs Can Process 1,500 Tests for Coronavirus per Day

Bratislava, April 3 (TASR) - Private laboratories can carry out 1,500 tests for coronavirus per day as of Friday, but this figure could double during the course of next week, head of the Laboratories Association (AsLab) Vladimir Jezik has told TASR, stressing the need to differentiate between capacities for testing and taking samples. "It is expected that this capacity might double over the course of next week so that private laboratories will be ready for increasing demand for tests from the state, strategic companies and those paying for them themselves," said Jezik. However, a government regulation reads that the state will send samples for testing by private labs only after the testing capacity of the state, which is 1,000 samples per day, is exceeded, he said. Therefore, individual AsLab members are currently working on opening their own sample-collection points in cooperation with hospitals and local governments. According to Jezik, private labs are currently holding talks with strategic companies on testing their staff and have already started to test those who pay for it themselves so that available testing capacities are used as much as possible. Five sample-collection points were set up this week: two in Bratislava, and one each in Malacky (Bratislava region), Kosice and Nitra. The daily capacity of each one is some 100 samples. Seven more sample-collection points should be opened in the next few days: in Poprad (Presov region), Presov, Zilina, Povazska Bystrica, Puchov, Ilava (the latter three all Trencin region) and Kralovsky Chlmec (Kosice region), he said. "Thanks to these activities the number of samples taken is growing every day. However, the setting-up of each sample-collection point is preceded by talks, permits, contracts etc., so it's not a question of hours, but days," said Jezik. However, the good news is that tests in several strategic companies and health-care facilities have already been launched. AsLab is an association of the largest private providers of laboratory diagnostics in Slovakia, i.e. Medirex, Klinicka biochemia, Alpha Medical and Synlab. The costs of tests for those who pay for them themselves ranges from around €60 to €70. ko/df/bub