As the UAE Government identified widespread and accurate testing as a proven effective measure to curb the spread of COVID-19, the National Reference Laboratory announced it is increasing its daily testing capacity by 2,500, raising the total number of tests from 3,500 to 6,000.

Hasan Jasem Al Nowais, Senior Vice President of Mubadala Healthcare, said, "Our NRLfacility was able to help the national effort as it possesses the scalable infrastructure, diagnostic capabilities and professional support that were required to take on this vital role quickly and reliably."

He added, "All Mubadala Healthcare facilities are joining forces as part of the countrywide effort to tackle COVID-19 and alleviate its impact on the population and economy. We believe it is our duty to do everything we can to help the UAE successfully navigate this challenge."

NRL is one of only a few laboratories in the country that performs COVID-19 testing in a Biosafety Level-3, BSL-3, laboratory. Such laboratories conform to the highest level of standards required by the World Health Organisation for widespread diagnostic testing for COVID-19. In line with WHO and the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, recommendations, NRL tests all samples separately, while maintaining a fast turn-around time.

Abdul Hamid Oubeisi, Chief Executive Officer of NRL, explained, "When the situation arose, NRL rapidly implemented a test method validation and developed a comprehensive workflow for onsite COVID-19 testing to perform accurate and rapid polymerase chain reaction, PCR, testing for COVID-19."

NRL Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Basel Altrabulsi, points out that there are different types of testing available for COVID-19, each with its own advantages, and that NRL is capable of taking on whichever measures are deemed most suitable by the UAE government with immediate effect.

Dr. Altrabulsi explained, ""The current molecular diagnostic testing relies on a technology called PCR and searches for evidence of the virus’s RNA genome. Viral RNA-based tests are useful in the acute illness setting and for individual patient management, as well as implementing strategies to prevent the spread in healthcare facilities and the community.

WAM