Punjab Healthcare Commission approves Covid PCR lab at UAF

Laboratory will test samples received from provincial govt

RAWALPINDI:

The Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC) has approved a Covid PCR testing laboratory established at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF). The lab has been established at the Institute of Microbiology, UAF.

A letter issued by PHC Chief Executive Officer Dr Shuiab Khan stated that the facility will provide PCR testing for samples to be received from the Punjab government.

In this regard, a team of the commission comprising of Dr Fahad Manzoor Bajwa, Dr Shoaib Malik and Ausaf Cheema visited the UAF to assess whether it is equipped to perform the PCR test for Covid-19 and it was granted permission.

“The lab will work under the national guidelines for laboratories,” he said.

Dr Muhammad Ashraf said that the university has been making efforts to facilitate the government in its efforts to combat Covid-19. He maintained that Dr Sajjadur Rehman will supervise the test process.

“At the initial stage, the university will perform 50 tests on a daily basis of samples that would be received from the Punjab government,” he said.

He added that the university had provided its hostels for quarantine purposes to the government.

“Amid this difficult situation of Covid-19, the university continues its academic services online for the students so that they can benefit from distance learning,” said Dr Ashraf.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 9^th, 2020.