An IT glitch causing issues surrounding unreceived COVID-19 results being sent via text was discussed by SA Health officials who have reassured the public that it is not a huge problem.
SA Health’s Clinical Service Director, Dr Tom Dodd says that all positive results are immediately identified.
Citing the increase from 2500 daily tests to 6000 in the space of two weeks as the cause of issues, Dr Dodd says that there are things that may need to be improved with SA Health and the laboratories processes.
“For the vast majority the system has been working perfectly well,” Dr Dodd says.
“But we are aware that we need to make sure the remainder of results go through efficiently which is why we are also phoning certain people.”
SA Health currently mobilise a force of 40 to 50 staff to pass on results through phone calls.
Clarifying on the confusion surrounding when those tested could expect to receive results, Dr Dodd says that the timing around obtaining results is dependent on the transport time of the swabs.
“The swabs have to be transported from where they are collected to a lab,” he says.
This would account for the 24 to 48 hours wait time that people have been provided.
The turnaround time for results in the lab is said to be 16 hours which includes prep and processing time of the sample.
Acutely unwell patients are often provided a rapid 60 minute test.
More to come.
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