The Canary Islands Health Service, through the General Directorate of Public Health, has authorized a total of 33 laboratories and private companies to carry out PCR tests for the diagnosis of the coronavirus COVID-19 while the state of alarm continues.
The authorization is carried out according to the Order published in BOC no85 of April 30, which establishes, in accordance with the foreseen regulatory framework, the prior authorization system for carrying out diagnostic tests for COVID-19 by means other than the Canary Health Service, to guarantee that they comply with the criteria established by the competent health authority. It also determines the criteria and the procedure to comply with said requirement.
The Order regulates the mechanism by which privately owned health centers, services and establishments located in the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands declare the means and materials available for the diagnosis of COVID-19, with a view to its possible use by the Canary Service. Health in coordination with existing diagnostic circuits in the fight against the epidemic.
To date, the General Directorate of Public Health has received a total of 41 requests, of which 33 authorizations have already been processed and resolved to different entities that meet the established criteria. Inquiries have also been received from entities or companies that want to carry out tests on personnel who are joining the working life.
Of the 33 authorizations already processed, 19 in the province of Las Palmas and 14 in that of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, corresponding to different entities, centers, laboratories and clinics in the Canary Islands.
In order to carry out these tests, laboratories must have an authorization issued by the General Directorate of Public Health of the SCS, which previously verifies that they meet requirements, such as the prescription of the test will always be carried out by a doctor in exercise and will comply with the criteria and procedures in force by the health authority. Laboratories, in addition to having the necessary means for the diagnostic process validated by the competent national body, must report the results of the tests carried out daily to the General Directorate of Public Health.
The groups that meet sanitary criteria for carrying out these COVID 19 tests, at this time of the pandemic, to be carried out by private laboratories are professionals of essential services and care for the public, among others.
These groups to prioritize the performance of diagnostic tests for the detection of COVID19, according to the Order of April 28 (BOC no85), will be subject to review according to health criteria, depending on the evolution of the pandemic and the phase of de-escalation in our Community. Autonomous.
