Faster turn-around-times in regional areas will be available for urgent cases with the introduction of regional on-site testing analysers for COVID-19 – with results available within an hour.
The analysers will provide testing capability to regional areas of most need, further adding to the State’s testing capacity.
For the first time, the McGowan Government. through PathWest, is installing molecular PCR analysers in select laboratories outside of Perth – the first of which will be located at PathWest Broome next week, then Kalgoorlie and Geraldton. Feasibility studies are underway for further roll-out to Port Hedland, Albany and Esperance.
The GeneXpert® analysers will be used for higher risk COVID-19 testing scenarios, such as health care workers, police, hospital patients, people living in Aboriginal communities and those from an area with an increased risk of community transmission.
Test results will be provided in a fraction of the time, without having to transport samples to Perth.
The Department of Health, PathWest and the WA Country Health Service are also co‑ordinating the rollout of a COVID-19 Remote Point of Care Testing Program announced by the Commonwealth Department of Health last week. These analysers will provide testing in smaller regional and remote communities where no testing facilities are available.
For more information telephone the COVID-19 Health Information Line on 1800
