Covid-19 Swab Sample Checking in Batam is Constrained, Here Are The Reasons

TRIBUNBATAM.id, BATAM - Disease Control and Environmental Health Engineering Center (BTKL-PP) Class I Batam since the last two days from Saturday (4/18) has been hampered in examining swab samples suspect Covid-19.

This is due to the lack of chemical reagents (reagents) to detect Covid-19 using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method.

Head of BTKL PP Batam city, Slamet Siswanto, said that he would get additional chemical reagents on Monday (4/20/2020).

As many as 50 reagents are planned will come to examine 50 swab samples.

"Actually it was not finished, indeed we are waiting for the arrival of 50 Reagents for Inspection of 50 Samples," said Slamet, Sunday (4/19/2020).

Slamet explained that in the last two days Saturday and Sunday, Batam BTKL-PP team only carried out the unboxing process (sample opening) then proceeded with extraction to obtain RNA from Sars Cov2.

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"Yesterday the BTKLP team unboxed the samples that had come to BTKLP, then today the teammates are working on extractions from samples that have been unboxed to get RNA from Sar Cov2 and then tomorrow we will only do testing after the Reagent Arrival of 50," Slamet explained.

He also said after the reagents arrived, it was likely that samples that had arrived at BTKL-PP Batam would get results on Monday (4/20) evening or night.

In addition to limitations of reagents, Slamet also said to maintain Stamina of BTKL-PP team who carried out the testing using system of time rotation.

"Some of BTKL-PP teams do have a holiday where those who enter on Saturday do unboxing. Then this Sunday extraction. So they take turns to do this," he said.

They have a lot of work to do, they are grateful there are still parties who care about them.

Slamet revealed, they had the support of Batam PSMTI some time ago.

"Thank God some time ago came the support of PSMTI who paid attention to the nutrition of BTKLP friends who checked the samples," he said.

When confirmed regarding how many swab samples were examined by Batam BTKL-PP team he said his office had done everything possible for the Inspection.

"For the examination of samples if the availability of Reagan, of course we will try as much as possible," he said.