The IPC has performed more than 100,000 Covid-19 tests as of October 26 and found 287 positive cases. Hong Menea
The Institut Pasteur du Cambodge (IPC) has performed more than 100,000 Covid-19 tests as of October 26 and found 287 positive cases.
All results have been shared with the World Health Organisation (WHO) since the start of the pandemic.
In a press release issued to mark the milestone, the non-profit research institute said it remained committed to working with the Cambodian Ministry of Health to combat Covid-19.
In addition to routine Covid-19 testing, the IPC said it was also actively involved in global validation and verification of novel testing protocols and diagnostics kits for SARS-CoV-2, as well as research projects facilitating the understanding of the Covid-19 pandemic.
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The institute detected the first positive Covid-19 case in Cambodia on January 27. It also played a pivotal role in the response and testing of passengers from the MS Westerdam cruise ship in February. In March, IPC scientists were able to successfully isolate the virus. In April, IPC received a designation as WHO Global referral laboratory for Covid-19.
The IPC has helped support the training of laboratory personnel and will have laboratory capacities for Covid-19 tests available online soon.
In addition to RT-PCR molecular diagnostic tests to detect coronavirus, IPC scientists have also implemented serology capacities for seroprevalence studies in response to influenza (H3N2) and chikungunya.
Other diseases are also on IPC’s radar, including seasonal and avian influenza, dengue, malaria, HIV and tuberculosis.
Maintaining these research efforts is paramount to understanding pathogens with high public health impacts in Cambodia, the Great Mekong Sub-Region, and the globe, the institute said.
