| Although intended to function as a clinical laboratory,Cheap Soccer Jerseys For Sale, the possibility exists that the National Public Health Reference Laboratory could be allowed to function as a support facility to the Ministry of Public Security’s Forensic Laboratory.This is according to Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, who disclosed during an interview with this publication that discussions in this regard are ongoing.But should measures be put in place to foster such a development,Cheap Authentic Jerseys, it could see the National Reference Laboratory’s services being extended to rape victims.A strategic move like this, according to the CMO, will mean that the laboratory will be tasked with helping to identify the Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) found in semen samples.“This is what we are looking at,Cheap NFL Jerseys, and there is a real possibility that that could happen very shortly,” related Dr. Persaud.But a challenge that the laboratory has been faced with over time is the same one that is likely to delay the proposed collaboration.“The expertise is what we don’t have; we have some people with the knowledge – technologists at various stages – and there is a degree being offered at UG (the University of Guyana) where they are doing a little bit more, but we still need to train more technical people,” Dr. Persaud disclosed.He, however, noted that even with the additional training capacity, care will have to be taken before the rape testing service is offered. And this, he said,Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale, is due to the fact that such tests are very important. According to Dr. Persaud, “you really have to thoroughly be able to say with some amount of confidence that this is so, because of the consequence of the results that you produce.”“So there needs to be a little more time in terms of preparation,NFL Jerseys Cheap,” added the CMO, who went on to point out that “once things are on tract it is likely that the Reference Lab will work very closely with the Police Force.”The CMO’s remarks come at the time when the Ministry is looking to recruit key personnel for the laboratory, including a Director. Moves are also apace to ensure that there are regular maintenance schedules of the laboratory equipment. The CMO has admitted that irregular maintenance has resulted in some equipment not functioning optimally.The Reference Laboratory,Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping, which was established with immense support from the United States President Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR),Cheap NFL Jerseys, became operational in 2008, and by 2009 had introduced specialised testing capabilities. These included Deoxyribonucleic Acid-Polymerase Chain Reaction (DNA-PCR) and Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) – PCR tests that were then deemed new to Guyana.The laboratory has been able to use the DNA-PCR test to diagnosis babies who are born to HIV-positive mothers. And this was considered a breakthrough for the public health system since prior to that, such diagnosis could have only been confirmed until 18 months had elapsed.And with the RNA-PCR, the viral load measurement (the measure of the severity of an infection) lab personnel were able to monitor HIV patients on Anti-Retroviral (ARV) treatment.In fact a former Director, Dr. Colin Roach, soon after the lab’s opening had told this publication that it was poised for significant expansion.“We will be able to do many other things, including the H1N1 virus (Swine Flu) testing. We just have to get a few other little things. This is because there is not one reagent doing everything, each test is unique, so we have to build around the capacity we now have,” he had disclosed.Training for staffers was reportedly conducted in 2010 by consultants from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. But with staff turnover and an equipment maintenance issue, the laboratory’s capacity remains limited. |
