Combating coronavirus: Abu Dhabi lab tests 1,000 Covid-19 samples a day

A laboratory in Abu Dhabi City is operating round the clock, testing more than 1,000 Covid-19 samples a day. Khaleej Times was offered a first-hand experience of the tests done inside the highly-protected laboratory environment.

Proficiency Healthcare Diagnostics (PHD), part of Al Borg Medical Laboratories, functions across four floors of a tower carrying out many vital tests. Here, samples are tested for Covid-19 on an automated molecular division on a secured floor.

A senior official at the lab said they were prepared to meet any such emergency much before the first case was confirmed in the UAE.

"Once this virus started spreading from China, we feared this might be reaching here as the UAE is an international hub with people flying in and transiting. So proactively, we started interaction with our team, stakeholders and then with government officials to find a way to tackle this problem," said Mohammed Zafar, country head of PHD and Al Borg Medical Laboratories.

It helped that the lab already had reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test facility - an accurate way to detect the virus. "We slowly built up our capacity. We worked on how to handle samples and bio-safety requirements in line with government regulations. And we became prepared to handle such load. We are testing samples for more than two weeks. We are doing more than 1,000 tests per day, 95 per cent of load is coming from Abu Dhabi Health Services Company - Seha," Zafar said.

What happens inside Covid-19 test lab?

Dr Lobna El Messery, group medical director and lab director in Abu Dhabi, said the process is double-checked to ensure zero-per cent error and facility is completely integrated electronically with healthcare authorities. "The samples are delivered through a separate entrance. Each sample is stored in temperature-controlled environment, then accessioning is done, i.e., data of person fed into integrated information system, samples are mapped with data provided by the health authorities. Then, there is RNA extraction process, followed by DNA detection to confirm presence of the virus. The results are updated electronically to the government," Dr Lobna said about the process inside the molecular biology lab. "This is a 24-hour operational lab to test as many samples as possible. The best policy for now is to screen and contain. We are doing our bit of screening," she added.

 Zafar noted Al Borg group of laboratories is spread across the UAE, with Abu Dhabi facility being the biggest. "Al Borg is present in 15 countries and we have 12 labs spread across the UAE."

He underlined that the medical staff was pushing themselves to help the UAE fight this disease.

"We have 12 medical staff working full time, but the entire company is in this together. They all have personal protective equipment. They are putting extra time and effort with less time to sleep. They are compensated for working overtime. There's a sleeping facility and place to relax. There are attendants solely to cater to their requirements," Zafar added.

ashwani@khaleejtimes.com