WHO/PAHO recently made a new donation to support the Dominican Republic’s National Laboratory in increasing its COVID-19 testing capacity.
The donation included much-needed equipment to conserve and transport the growing number of suspected cases the lab is confronted with, notably two laboratory refrigerators in addition to 125 refrigerators and 500 dry ice blocks for transportation. It also consisted of other lab and computing equipment such as 12 pipettes (Tip); a PCR micro-centrifuge tube and a seventh-generation computer.
In recent weeks, WHO donated 4 000 viral transport swabs and 30 reagent kits, expanding the National Laboratory's test processing capacity. PAHO previously gave the country six kits containing SARS-Cov-2 reagents and diagnostic supplies for the COBAS 6800 kit; viral DNA extraction kits; 12 boxes of means of transport; and supplies to process tests to detect other respiratory viruses that are circulating in the country in addition to SARS-CoV-2, such as other influenza viruses.
Strengthening the National Laboratory has been one of PAHO's priorities throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.