By Sarah Hannan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa recently instructed that the number of tests carried out to detect Covid-19 should be increased to at least 2,000 tests per day. The report on strengthening and expediting the laboratory investigations of Covid-19 patients, prepared by a five-member working group appointed by the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services, stated that at present, Sri Lanka has about 115 PCR machines in 14 health institutions under the Ministry of Health, 12 state-owned university medical faculties, and five private sector health institutions. Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr. Anil Jasinghe said that most of the PCR machines were not put to use as there was a lack of laboratory facilities and human resources to use these machines, but he affirmed that after a discussion with the Ministry of Higher Education and the Ministry of Health, the necessary facilities and human resources are to be provided. It was also decided at this meeting that the additional staff for the Covid-19 investigation will be trained, and the vice chancellors of the universities agreed to facilitate it. Accordingly, the Peradeniya, Colombo, and Kelaniya Universities will commence PCR tests at their medical faculties soon. It was revealed at the meeting that the University of Peradeniya could conduct about 400 tests a day. It was also discussed that these tests will be carried out in the main hospitals including the Medical Research Institute (MRI) and the hospitals in Kegalle and Galle by next week. Sri Lanka Association of Government Medical Laboratory Technologists President and Laboratory Technologist Ravi Kumudesh speaking to The Morning said: “Given the fact that the necessary reagents and the staff required to carry out the tests are made available at these institutions within a six-hour period, a total of 90 PCR tests can be carried out on one machine, which means a machine can run 15 tests per hour. However, the number of tests carried out per PCR machine within a six-hour period is at half the capacity at present.” Since Sri Lanka already has 115 PCR machines, if the machines are put to use to generate its maximum average, the country should be able to carry out up to 10,000 tests per day. Kumudesh also noted that there are 200 government medical laboratory technologists who are ready to get to work if they are provided access to the machines in other institutions, and the Government need not train new persons for the task at the moment.