THE Eureka Medical Laboratories Inc. has affirmed that it is capable of identifying persons infected with both the common and mutated strains of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. At the end of 2020, many countries began taking measures to ban travel from the United Kingdom (UK) after a more transmissible strain of COVID-19 was becoming increasingly prevalent there.

By December 31, the first case of that strain, or variant, was recorded in the United States. At the time, Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony said that Guyana does not have the capability to define the different strains of the virus, and instead has to await guidance from the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA).

On Monday, however, a release from the Eureka Laboratory posited, “We would like to reassure our valued customers and partners that the assays [investigative procedures] we are currently using to detect SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) are capable of successfully identifying persons with either the common strain of the virus or its mutated variants.”

The establishment has identified three different variants of the virus, and said that it is committed to meeting the diagnostic challenges that identifying these variants may pose. Eureka also continues to remain “vigilant and proactive” in ensuring that the testing provided meets rigorous international standards, and also the expectations of its customers.