Credence Genomics, trail blazers in the area of genome diagnostics, has launched the COVID Diagnostics Center to cater for the needs of COVID RT-qPCR testing in Sri Lanka. The company announced last week.

The COVID Diagnostics Center is a diagnostic grade facility with the capacity to deliver over 6,000 tests, a four- hour reporting time and a lab time of 70 mins. Credence CDC President Dr. Sarath Paranavitane, an industry veteran who has been involved in many important local and international healthcare projects  that cater to high quality testing and patient care, who will be heading the Centre said. 

“The vision behind the COVID Diagnostics Center (CDC) is to serve the need for rapid high quality PCR testing where a patient can conduct the gold standard qPCR test within three hours based on enhanced technology investments. The unit uses robotic magnetic bead extractors from Pentabase Denmark, a leader in RNA extraction and qPCR. The units are used in major airports, and health institutions including Sri Lanka’s BIA lab which conducted 100,00 tests on this  platform recently”, said Paranavitane.

Credence CDC also uses diagnostic grade approved RT-qPCR machines from leading suppliers in a purpose-built facility designed specifically to prevent contamination, while  a team of award-winning Lankan scientists with global delivery experience is behind every single test. The facility follows strict decontamination and fogging protocols ensuring the integrity of the unit and in turn each sample, a news release said.

“Each sample is registered online, and sample integrity is checked through multiple quality control parameters, while Credence only works with collectors who are evaluated and certified by a consultant microbiologist or virologist”.

Paranavitane went on to say that the COVID Diagnostic Center has been conceived to respond to the national need for high quality, rapid, and precise PCR testing. An early test result will enable  the Sri Lankan  workforce to take prompt  action in keeping with the government guidelines which in turn will help the workforce to return to work early and ensure smooth functioning of the organization.

“A test of this speed, accuracy and cost effectiveness will reduce the government burden by encouraging early home isolation and also curtail spread of COVID 19.”

The uniqueness of the Credence lab vis-a- vis other facilities includes the fact that it is the only facility that could perform 6,000 tests per day and give a report in four hours, the entire process from collection point to generation of a report can be viewed on line by an access given from  a dedicated portal, and all tests are done on a diagnostic platform as opposed to a research platform with no pooling of samples.

The process is automated with minimal human interaction thereby ensuring 100 % accuracy. Every report  carries the CT value in compliance with WHO and CDC  guidelines, while the team of collectors are trained and certified by a consultant microbiologist and consultant physician [Dr Paranavitane] on an ongoing basis, with weekly reviews.

 “Collection of samples as you are aware is the first most important step in this process of PCR testing as if this is  not done properly, the subsequent steps  leading  to report generation becomes a futile exercise” said Paranavitane.

CEO, Credence Genomics Dr. Vaz Gnanam  said “the COVID Diagnostic Center is an amalgamation of scientists, healthcare professionals, and the most advanced technology along with data systems and processes under the exemplary leadership of Dr. Sarath Paranavitane  in response to the national crisis caused by COVID. Credence Genomics considers it  a privilege to serve our nation at this time of crisis.

Dr. Vaz Gnanam futher said that Credence Genomics is honoured to join hands with the Central Medical Centre (PVT) Ltd. at Kohuwala – a longstanding and reputed family practice of Dr.Sarath Paranavitane’s to take forward the concept of next generation sequencing in cancer management at both primary and secondary healthcare levels

Credence Genomics (Pvt) Limited is Sri Lanka’s first and foremost clinical genomics laboratory to provide high throughput, high quality next generation sequencing services. Credence Genomics services both international and local genetic testing markets by exporting high quality testing services and products. A long term collaboration with Apollo Hospitals in India , has seen Credence’s unique infectious disease Bactfast and Fungifast being used across the board at arguably  the largest South Asian healthcare services provider. Credence Genomics has forged many partnerships globally and delivers their oncology and fertility range apart from the award winning dxn1 – infectious disease range.