Pure Health, a GCC laboratory operator, has set up a full-fledged field laboratory dedicated to combating COVID-19 in the nation
The new field laboratory has been set up within a 48-hour window, at the Sharjah Expo Centre, within the COVID -19 dedicated field hospital setup by the UAE government. The new field laboratory plays a major role in the UAE's COVID-19 containment and combat initiative.
The UAE government built the COVID-19 field hospital on 10 April 2020 with the specialised laboratory set up by Pure Health at a record time of 48 hours in order to strengthen the UAE 's fight against COVID-19. The facility, intended to increase patient capacity in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak, has increased hospital capacity nationwide to more than 5,000 beds in total.
Samia Al Balooshi, area laboratory manager at Pure Health and the field Laboratory in-charge, said, “By having multiple mini laboratories, we can also shorten the time needed for reporting, the quicker we provide these results, the quicker actions can be taken by healthcare providers and authorities, which leads to saving lives and a better control of the disease spread”
“This is an unprecedented time with a need for conducting higher volume of tests. The medium sized laboratory setup at the field hospital provides over 700 specialised tests including baseline hematology screening and blood works such as CBC, liver function enzyme, renal function, electrolytes, ferritin and CRP, ensuring a fast turn around time for results to ensure better clinical response for patients.
The facility also provides the latest point of care testing for arterial blood gas to monitor critical cases and glucose ‘Point of Care’ testing for diabetic cases that require regular monitoring of blood glucose levels,” Al Balooshi added.
The field laboratory is fully connected to the latest laboratory information system that is directly linked to the healthcare network. Pure Health has streamlined test workflows with the web-based IT system and made data easily accessible to all parties, thereby speeding up testing at the facility.
Spearheaded by a female expert from the Emirati, a total of 10 medical laboratory professionals of different nationalities are part of the field laboratory work 24/7.
