New Covid-19 lab at Dubai airport can process 100,000 samples daily

On Tuesday, one of the world’s largest Covid-19 RT-PCR testing laboratories was officially opened at Dubai International Airport (DXB).

Located close to Terminal 2, the 20,000 square-foot laboratory is a dedicated facility for round the clock processing of RT-PCR test samples collected from passengers at the airport.

The lab, built in collaboration with Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and Pure Health, uses WHO-standard testing equipment and can process up to 100,000 samples per day, providing results within a few hours.

The facility is equipped with negative and positive pressure rooms and is linked to government reporting platforms for secure and direct sharing of information between health and regulatory authorities as well as airlines, according to news agency WAM.

Awad Saghir Al Ketbi, director general of DHA said that the laboratory’s capabilities will significantly reduce waiting times for test results of passengers arriving into Dubai.

He expressed keenness in expanding the lab’s scope considering that the presence of an inhouse processing facility at DXB would enhance monitoring, investigation and proactive preventive steps taken by Dubai, as part of the measures to limit the spread of Covid-19.

“As the largest lab operator in the country and an established healthcare provider, we are aiming to secure the safety of this nation’s citizens, residents and visitors by contributing to a new standard of healthcare that benefits the people and communities around us,” said Farhan Malik, group CEO of Pure Health.

The opening of the lab follows closely on the heels of the reopening of Terminal 1 and Concourse D after 15-months. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and chairman and chief executive of Emirates Airline and Group, said: “The drastic change in travel norms and the introduction of travel protocols including PCR testing have changed the airport experience of travellers around the world. As the world’s busiest international hub preparing for a surge in passenger traffic over the summer holidays and beyond, we were keen to make sure that the airport journey is safer, smoother and faster while fulfilling the required health protocols. The lab’s quick turnaround for processing test results will go a long way in helping us deliver a service experience the world expects from Dubai.”

In March, Pure Health and Tamouh Healthcare collaborated to open a Covid-19 PCR testing laboratory in Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH). Capable of conducting over 20,000 tests per day, the 4,000-square-metre Abu Dhabi facility operate around the clock too with up to 190 staff. All incoming passengers at AUH with results available in 90 minutes – among the fastest in the world.

Read: Free Covid-19 PCR tests at new lab inside Abu Dhabi International Airport