Three days after the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) claimed it was the only regional reference laboratory accredited to test for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and also confirm positive/negative results—officials at the St Augustine Medical Laboratory (STAML) say they are doing nothing wrong or illegal as they too, perform verified diagnostic tests for the virus.
Refusing to engage in a public confrontation with CARPHA and the Ministry of Health on the issue, STAML’s deputy director Dr Shari Ramsaran said they remained concerned about the possible entry of COVID-19 into T&T as this would be detrimental to the population.
Speaking with Guardian Media at their office, Ramsaran reiterated, “In whatever way we can, we are here to assist.”
“Our job is centered around diagnostics and we are not known to be irresponsible in health care.”
Providing some insight into how they came to be involved in testing for COVID-19, Ramsaran said, “We have been in touch with CARPHA and the Ministry long before a test was available for COVID-19, informing them of our interest to do testing.”