12 June 2020
Threesna Sharfina
MEDAN – HUMAS USU: The Ministry of Education and Culture (Kemendikbud), through Dr. Sofyan Tan Ginting, a member of Commission X of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), handed over one unit of Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) machine to Universitas Sumatera Utara Hospital (RS USU) on Thursday (June 11, 2020). This aid aims to accelerate the detection of individuals suspected of having COVID-19.
Sofyan Tan stated that RS USU is the only teaching hospital outside Java Island that receives the RT-PCR device from Kemendikbud. “This is an opportunity I have as a DPR member to provide support and contribute to the future development of RS USU. This unit is one of the five purchased by Kemendikbud, making RS USU the only teaching hospital outside Java to receive it,” said Sofyan.
He hopes that the RT-PCR machine will help expedite the testing process carried out by the medical team. Previously, RS USU could examine around 300 samples per day. This additional machine can increase the capacity to 400–500 samples daily. We expect this to significantly ease and speed up the swab testing process for COVID-19 patients,” he added.
The aid was warmly welcomed by the President Director of RS USU, Dr. dr. Syah Mirsya Warli, Sp.U(K). He said the new device will help the hospital issue test results more quickly.
“We have received an additional RT-PCR machine from Kemendikbud. Once installed and operational, it will expand RS USU’s capacity to provide faster testing results,” he said.
Before this, RS USU had been conducting examinations using its equipment, equipment borrowed from the Belawan Agricultural Quarantine Agency, and tools provided by the North Sumatra Provincial Government. However, processing times were delayed due to the high number of samples and the limited availability of RT-PCR machines. With this new equipment, RS USU is optimistic it can release at least 400 test results per day.
“With the support of this additional RT-PCR machine and a steady supply of reagents provided by the local and central governments, the Covid-19 task force, BNPB, and Litbangkes, we hope the process will continue smoothly, and no sample backlog will occur,” concluded Dr. dr. Syah Mirsya Warli, Sp.U(K). (Humas)
