INS Recognition
The INS recognizes the work of the Hematologic Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory
Last October, the Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory at Laboratorio Clínico Hematológico received recognition and thanks for being part of the Colombian Molecular Diagnostics Network for SARS-CoV-2. The distinction was given by the National Institute of Health (INS) of Colombia, headed by Martha Lucía Ospina Martínez, General Director, in an event held in the auditorium of the Pablo Tobón Uribe Hospital, in the city of Medellín.
Jairo M. Arango Mesa, PhD (Hematológico Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory Leader), Martha Lucía Ospina Martínez (INS General Director) and Julián Echeverry Chica, MSc (Hematológico Quality Assurance Coordinator) during the recognition given by INS to Hematológico.
"To be able to go to this meeting that the INS invited us to, where we could see that not many laboratories participated in this program, that there were few that decided to put their energy into this diagnosis without fear and with great commitment, filled us with great satisfaction," said Julian Echeverry Chica, Coordinator of Quality Assurance at the Hematology Department, who acted as microbiologist of the molecular process during the pandemic.
Today, the molecular diagnostic capacity of the Hematology Department goes beyond the detection of SARS-CoV-2 and other important public health tests have been added, such as the detection of the genome of the human papillomavirus (HPV), the main causal agent of cervical cancer in women. In addition, other sophisticated tests are being implemented, with the aim of shortening diagnostic times and providing integrated services.
"The molecular diagnostic unit had its consolidation stage and exponential growth in processing capacity, human equipment and automation. This historic moment represented the most important link between the national health system, the Epidemiological Surveillance Network and the Departmental Public Health Laboratory, with the country's laboratories, clinics and hospitals, to fight together against the SARS-CoV-2 virus," said Jairo A. Mesa Arango, PhD in Biology, Leader of the Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory of the Hematológico.
The Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory team is made up of microbiologists with different levels of training (basic, master's and doctorate) in the area and is supported by the team of physicians specializing in Hematology, Pathology and Microbiology of the Hematológico.
The Colombian Molecular Diagnostic Network for SARS-CoV-2 was consolidated by the INS as a national reference laboratory (LNR) to respond to the health emergency caused by COVID-19, guaranteeing public health surveillance and strengthening diagnostic capacity at the national level. This, through the inclusion of laboratories that met the quality criteria of methods, technology and infrastructure, under the favorable concept of the Departmental Laboratory of Public Health of Antioquia (LDSP).
The Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory is part of the Hematology Department's technological and facilities modernization and portfolio expansion project, which provides timely (between 8 and 48 hours) and reliable molecular results (high technical-scientific quality).
The Hematológico received the endorsement by the INS in November 2020, with the multiplex real-time RT-PCR test, respiratory panel RP2.1 of the Biofire(R) FilmArray(R) system, which also allows the detection of other pathogens causing acute respiratory infections (18 viruses and 4 bacteria in total). In February 2021, after the incorporation of J. Mesa, the specific real-time RT-PCR test for four genes specific to the virus (E, RdRP/S and N genes) was implemented and endorsed.
