Fiji’s Ministry of Health today received three new GeneXpert machines, and it is anticipated to boost the country’s laboratory testing capacity.
The machines were installed in the Fiji Centre for Disease Control (Fiji CDC).
According to the ministry, these new machines will enable 16 – instead of four tests – to be run at once per machine and allowing for up to 1000 additional tests a day.
The machines were procured by the World Health Organization (WHO) with funding support from the European Union (EU).
The island nation’s Minister of Health and Medical Services, Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete, acknowledged the support for the country’s efforts to prepare for and respond to COVID-19.
“The 16 module GeneXpert machine has come at a right time boosting our testing capacity as we face the current wave of new cases,” Dr Waqainabete said in a statement on the ministry Facebook page.
“The machines will further enhance our ability to turn around testing results quickly, and make decisions on our public health response. We thank the European Union for the tremendous support and timely assistance towards the Ministry’s COVID response effort.”
The ministry said those machines would be immediately used to test for COVID-19, and in the longer term, it could also be used to support testing for a range of other diseases, such as influenza, tuberculosis and HIV testing.
