Our Stories

A Hard-fought Win

Overcoming time pressure and the global shortage of test kits and reagents, the 8-member Microbiology team from Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong’s Clinical Laboratory has made in-house COVID-19 testing a reality, about two months after Hong Kong confirmed its first COVID-19 case.

Today, Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong is capable of testing up to 150 COVID-19 samples daily in its laboratory. It uses two test platforms (POCT or point of care testing and PCR or polymerase chain reaction testing), to provide quality and efficient service to meet our patients’ needs.

Between end of March and end of May, the hospital tested more than 200 cases, while supporting the Hong Kong Government Department of Health’s Community Deep Throat Saliva Surveillance Programme with about 300 cases.

The team is ramping up the laboratory’s testing capacity to meet the anticipated surge in testing demand as the government prepares to open up its borders to businesses travellers with negative COVID-19 nucleic acid testing result certification.

By making COVID-19 testing available to our patients and the medical needs of our clinicians, Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong is helping to stem the spread of the virus in the community. It is also keeping our hospital safe for our inpatients and frontline staff, ensuring that it continues to provide uninterrupted healthcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic.