FV received approval from MoH to perform Covid-19 testing

On April 3^rd, 2020, The Ministry of Health officially approved FV Hospital to become the first non-public hospital in Vietnam to provide testing and test results for SARS-CoV-2. FV Hospital’s Laboratory and Blood Bank applies modern RT-PCR technique to provide highly accurate results with few hours. All screening, sample taking and testing procedures are strictly follow the WHO, CDC and Ministry of Health Biosafety regulation to ensure safety for patients, staff and the community at large.

Patients, relatives and visitors who come to FV Hospital for medical examination and treatment, whether with an advanced appointment or not, must go through a screening process to detect suspected cases with epidemiological factors required mandatory testing. FV Hospital will temporarily isolate ALL PATIENTS with high risk factors indicating Covid-19 infection in separate isolation areas during the result waiting period. All patients with positive results will be referred to medical facilities as per CDC guidelines (HCMC Centers for Disease Control). All suspected case will be reported to CDC following to the current MoH regulations.

Patients who would like to be tested are advised to contact FV via phone to make an appointment and fulfil a medical report prior to arrival at the hospital for instructions on the safety process.

Associate Professor Dr. Luong Ngoc Khue, Head of MoH’s Department of Medical Examination and Treatment said: “FV Hospital is a medical facility that welcomes many foreigners for medical examination and treatment. The general direction of the Government and the Ministry of Health is to make early detection, timely treatment, effective isolation, and thus I appreciate FV Hospital for its efforts to continuously enhance expertise, equipment, facilities, quality control and safety processes to be able to participate in this important activity. ”

Considering the urgency and necessity for the prevention of the the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, under the guidance of Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long, after reporting to the Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, on the morning of March 28^th, 2020, Head of Department Luong Ngoc Khue and Doctor Hoang Quoc Cuong, Deputy Director of Pasteur Institute of Ho Chi Minh City led a delegation to FV Hospital in order to examine and eveluate the testing capacity for SARS-CoV-2 virus (Covid-19).

The appraisal team confirmed that FV Hospital is capable with adequate facilities, biosecurity, human resources, equipment, and proper isolation procedures to perform diagnostic tests for SARS-CoV-2, and requested the Ministry of Health allow FV Hospital to perform testing and to announce confirmation of positive cases for SARS-CoV-2 virus at the hospital’s Laboratory Department.

The testing quality and the analytical performance of FV’s Laboratory Department have been compared and evaluated to meet the international standards acomparible to all major laboratories in the world. The FV’s Laboratory Department has achieved ISO 15189: 2012 certification by the Vietnam Laboratory System – VILAS, and the performance is certification level 6 SIGMA Vp by Westgard QC – Quality Measurement Organization which evaluates  performance of laboratories around the world. This solid evidences  indicate its quality and capacity. Being equipped with the international standard PCR system, we are fully confident of measurement and testing results.

Mr. Friend Maviza, Head of FV’s Laboratory and Blood Bank Department, said : “FV’s Labaratory Department is ready to conduct the SARS-CoV-2 test. We have 2 specialized test areas, including an automated laboratory with RT-PCR equipment system and an immune technical laboratory for screening. Currently, the Laboratory Department can reach a maximum capacity of 400 samples per day, and return results to patients within 5 hours. We have also sent personnel to the Pasteur Institute for training so as to enhance their expertise and to ensure empirical safety. ”