Dr. Edwards also responded to an article that appeared today in the Trinidad Express newspaper in which Trinidad and Tobago’s Medical Association stated that there is no swine flu test available at CAREC, the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre.
Dr. Paul Edwards,
“We’ve sent the samples, they are there, there is a turn around time of six hours. What specifically can CAREC do, first of all we’re talking about a type A influenza, we’re aware that they’re three types of influenza: A,B, and C. So they will screen initially for a type A. After that is confirmed they will screen for the seasonal influenza, two results from there, it can be positive for that, that is a testing of exclusion, positive for that, that is fine. If it is negative then that sample will be sent to CDC. Right now only CDC and a laboratory in Canada have the capability to do two specific tests which is a real time chain reaction or viral culture. So that is exactly what is happening and that is right there. Mexico, they have sent their samples through CDC.
What we’ve tried to do, we’ve tried to make contact with CDC to see what would be the turnaround time in relation to when they receive the sample and are able to. Up until this point, we are still working on trying to get that information. Remember though, there are specific and highly sensitive laboratory tests so it may take probably some hours to a couple of days.”
