Updates

Covid-19 Test Updates

In view of the developing situation of COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019), ParkwayHealth Laboratory will be sharing our COVID-19 Testing updates on this webpage.

SARS-CoV-2 Test Available for COVID-19 Swab and Send Home Programme at General Physician Clinics

The Ministry of Health (MOH) has granted permission to Parkway Laboratory Services (PLS) to extend SARS-CoV-2 testing for COVID-19 beyond inpatient care at licensed private hospitals to the primary care community under the governance of the “Swab and Send Home (SASH)” programme for General Practitioners (GPs).

Under the SASH programme, MOH’s prevailing clinical criteria for swabbing are:

1. Patients meeting part (B) of the suspect case definition* (“Suspect”); or
2. Patients clinically assessed to have pneumonia but not requiring admission (“Surveillance”).

*Persons with ARI with (i) travel to areas of heightened vigilance, (ii) been to any hospital abroad or (iii) had close contact with a case of COVID-19 infection.

MOH has stated some examples where testing is not warranted and strongly prohibited:

1. Elective or general health screening;
2. Decision criterion to allow employees to return to work following from quarantine order; stay-home notice, or leave of absence; or
3. Asymptomatic patients without valid clinical justifications.

The criteria for swabbing is subject to change as the COVID-19 situation evolves and we shall take guidance from MOH.

GPs may contact the AIC GP helpline at +65 6632 1199 or email [email protected] for any enquiries regarding the SASH programme.

COVID-19 CNA News Feature: From Sample Collection to Lab

We are the first private laboratory in Singapore to run the SARS-CoV-2 PCR test for COVID-19 testing.

Watch a CNA news feature of our laboratory to find out what happens behind the scenes from sample collection to laboratory. 

For information on the coronavirus situation in Singapore, please visit the Ministry of Health website.