‘A’ category labs to be allowed to conduct PCR tests for those travelling abroad

The National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) at Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital in Teku has issued a notice regarding the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test of people travelling abroad.

A meeting of the Incident Command System has issued a couple of guidelines to the government and private hospitals that have been authorised to conduct the PCR test of Nepalis travelling abroad.

According to NPHL, only those government and private hospitals whose laboratories have been classified as ‘A’ category will be allowed to conduct PCR tests of those travelling abroad. The hospitals that have been provided with the authority to conduct such tests are Star Hospital in Sanepa Heights, Lalitpur; Mediciti Hospital in Bhainsepati, Lalitpur; Manmohan Memorial Medical College and Teaching Hospital in Swayambu, Kathmandu; HAMS Hospital in Mandikhatar, Kathmandu; and Universal College of Medical Sciences and Teaching Hospital in Bhairahawa, Rupandehi. Likewise, all government hospitals and laboratories that have been authorised to conduct PCR tests are also eligible to provide the aforementioned service.

NPHL has directed all the hospitals and laboratories that have been authorised to conduct PCR test of people going abroad to carefully examine the passport of the concerned persons. If any person is travelling to India the NPHL has directed the hospitals and laboratories to scrutinise the person’s identification papers. It has also directed the medical facilities to collect the swab samples themselves.

NPHL has also asked the concerned hospitals and laboratories to make arrangements whereby the details of the PCR test of the traveller can be viewed online at the transit points. It has also stated that the details should include the photograph and barcode of the concerned traveller. The hospitals and laboratories have also been directed to implement an online system to update their information at the Information Management Unit of the Ministry of Health and Population.