And while we rely so heavily on those test results every day - the people behind the scenes who make it possibly are the medical technologists who process hundreds of tests daily.
And tonight through the "Association of Clinical Laboratory Science of Belize" they are complaining that some much needed and highly specialised training in gene sequencing is going to someone outside their ranks.
Kaylyn Habet is on her way to Baylor College's Gene Sequencing course, as the Ministry of Health's signed, sealed, and selected candidate.
There's just one problem - while she has a first degree in neuroscience, she's not a Med Tech.
And that's why her selection for the much-coveted training has caused major disgruntlement in the minds of the country's actual lab techs. And this afternoon, via Zoom, Cherisse Halsall spoke to the Association's PR officer about the so called "seasonal worker" currently being trained in Gene sequencing.
Zarsha Robinson Thompson, Public Relations Officer, ACLSB
"This person would be considered a disappointment, because to our knowledge this person does not have a degree in medical laboratory technology, not from Belize or elsewhere. To our knowledge the person does have a bachelor's degree, but in neuroscience and for us we have countless qualified medical technologist in the public and in the private that could be considered would be more qualified to take this training. NHI employs people at the central medical lab. This person, I guess her name was put forward to be employed as an NHI employee, but NHI turned her down, because they were not a medical laboratory technologist and they have no practical training for that position. So, if she is not qualified for that position, why then would this person be qualified for further training."
"At this point there is nothing that can be done, but in the future, it would be best if they choose somebody who is more qualified. The person already left the country, so there is nothing that can be done to rectify that. I guess an apology, but really nothing can be done. Just moving forward we would appreciate it if they choose somebody who is qualified. Use the people who are there, who have dedicated their time."
Reporter
"Tell me why gene sequencing is so important, especially right now during a pandemic?"
Zarsha Robinson Thompson, Public Relations Officer, ACLSB
"With the gene sequencing, with the hope of that training is that in the future Belize would then be able to identify the variant strains of the covid19 virus in Belize. If you have somebody who is not qualified, doing this test that is so important in the identifying and helping our population to I guess to get through this virus, then we could have erroneous results. We already have erroneous results a high possibility, because machines break down or give error, humans give errors, but having somebody who is higher qualified, decreases that possibility of erroneous results."
And this evening the release from goes on to say quote: " The candidate awarded such training is not a public officer, nor a contract worker under any ministry, but merely paid a sessional salary." End quote.
