St John collects Covid-19 samples for testing

THE St John Ambulance’s drive-through facility has collected more than 30 Covid-19 samples since Jan 4, and continues to receive public inquiries on swabbing, an official says.
Commissioner and chief executive officer Matt Cannon said they were providing fast-tracked Covid-19 swabbing which were processed in an authorised private laboratory with results available within 24 hours.
“Trained by the World Health Organisation, the St John nurses will take Covid-19 samples from your nose and send it to an authorised private laboratory in Port Moresby for testing,” he said.
“The laboratory will conduct the real-time polymerase chain reaction testing.
“This type of testing is also required in Australia, Japan, and other countries,” Cannon said.
“With the fast-track private testing, a certificate containing the results will be returned within 24 hours through email.
“Patients can also obtain a hard copy of the certificate from the St John headquarter reception at 3-Mile.”
He clarified why there was a fee for the testing. “There is a fee for fast-tracked testing to cover the private laboratory fee and the cost to St John of providing a drive-through or at-home sampling.
“Patients needing urgent testing because they are sick are encouraged to attend their hospital.”
The free testing is expected to return results within 30 days from the Central Public Health Laboratory.
For the private 24-hour results:

• Drive-through (PNG citizen) costs K650;
• Drive-through (expatriate) is K750; and,
• At home/office costs K850.