Sri Lanka which was successful in handling COVID-19 cases is facing a tough time as the number of cases goes on increasing. A new challenge Sri Lanka facing is delay in obtaining the COVID-19 test results, due to the breakdown of a key testing machine amid a surge in the coronavirus cases, officials said. So far the island nation has recorded 10,663 COVID-19 cases and 20 deaths due to the deadly virus.
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Dr Jayaruwan Bandara, Health Ministry spokesman has said the main PCR testing machine at the Base Hospital in Mulleriyawa that can test 500-1,000 samples daily broke down earlier this week. Foreign technical experts are rectifying the fault of the malfunctioning machine and it would resume operation soon. The data shows the nation possess 25 PCR (Polymerase chain reaction) test machines with collective testing capacity of 8,000 samples per day.
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With the assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Sri Lanka has built a dedicated laboratory for COVID-19 testing, at a cost Rs 246 million. The backlog of 20,000 PCR tests were reported due to the machine failure, with a delay of about five days to release test results. "There is a delay in test reports, but it does not mean that the process has come to a halt," Bandara said. Due to machine failure, tests are conducted manually, virus separation takes about three hours and it takes another two hours to analyse the report and further printing.