Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 May 2020
531. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the daily capacity for Covid-19 testing; the response time from test application to test to result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7296/20]
View answerThe HSE, together with my Department and other bodies, has worked hard in the last two months to develop Ireland’s testing and tracing process, to expand capacity and to reduce turnaround times, and significant progress has been made.
On 14 May the HSE published its Roadmap on Testing and Tracing which confirms capacity is now in place across the full testing pathway to test 15,000 people a day. The HSE advises that the time from referral to receiving an appointment is generally same day. The HSE also advises that the end-to-end median turnaround time from referral to the completion of contact tracing for positive results is now 2.3 days. The end-to-end median turnaround times from referral to result is 2 days or less.
I am confident that the HSE is putting in place the measures to further reduce turnaround times and we are seeing continuing improvement. The HSE continues to streamline the process and to automate where possible. A range of process optimisation measures are being put in place, including automated swab appointments; offering the option to receive positive test results by text and enabling out of hours referrals. These are in addition to measures already in place including IT improvement, automation processes, and streamlined transportation logistics.
