Launch drive-thru specimen collection site for patients for COVID-19
SRL Diagnostics in partnership with MCG Gurgaon opened Gurgaon’s first COVID-19 drive-thru specimen collection site for patients in the millennium city. The drive-through site is situated in Gurgaon’s Sector 29 in the parking area, near Leisure Valley Gate Number II. The drive-thru style facility will ensure that samples are collected in a way that people do not have to leave their cars.
Vinay Pratap Singh, Municipal Corporation Gurugram Commissioner said that this site was needed greatly as active COVID cases in Gurugram have increased exponentially.
Singh said, “Drive-thru concept all over the world is now being used to fast-track sample collection for Covid-19. Not only is the method faster, but it also limits human interaction with potentially infected people, further preventing the spread of the virus. Under this lockdown, there are quite a few empty parking lots available and we feel this space can be utilised for creating such drive-through testing sites. The location near Leisure Valley in Sector 29 is one such site we wanted to utilise immediately. We are happy to partner with SRL Diagnostics for this initiative as they have the largest accredited private lab in Gurgaon that is equipped to conduct COVID-19 testing.”
“A successful replication of this model, which originally started in South Korea, on a national level will play a significant role in fighting against coronavirus disease,” Singh added.
According to SRL, the lab received approval from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The procedure is simple, the patient remains in the passenger seat – next to the driver or in the left rear seat, the nasal / throat swab sample is taken through the car window – the entire process (drive-in entry to exit) takes about five to ten minutes. This swab is then sent to a laboratory for testing and the patient can receive the report the same day if the sample is given before 12 noon. SRL’s reference lab in Gurgaon is the largest NABL and CAP accredited private lab in Gurgaon that is equipped to conduct COVID 19 testing.
Talking about the new offering Dr Anurag Bansal, Technical Head N&E and Director – Lab Operations, Gurugram Reference Lab, SRL Diagnostics said, “While not much is known about the COVID-19, one thing is certain — it’s highly contagious. So, a potential patient inside his / her own car is the safest way to minimise human to human transfer. This process is safer both for the patient and our phlebotomist. In a country where there’s a shortage of PPE we need to find frugal ways to conduct tests efficiently. By collecting samples through these drive thrus we are certainly not compromising on the testing protocols, and at the same time doing everything we can to protect the well-being of our brave and selfless frontline soldiers by minimising human to human interaction.”
The documents needed to book a drive-thru test appointment are a duly filled patient details form by a qualified physician, the prescription of the doctor for the Covid-19 test and Aadhaar card. All documentation will happen over electronic medium as all drive-thru bookings will be via appointment booked on our toll-free number (1800 222000). The idea behind drive-thru testing for coronavirus is simple: keeping potentially sick patients in their cars and allowing plenty of ventilation throughout the testing facility.
The diagnostic chain is also planning to come up with a similar facility in Mumbai.
SRL Diagnostics, drive-thru testing,
Dr Anurag Bansal, COVID-1
This will positively effect the efficiency of COVID prevention and treatment.