New Influenza Testing Equipment for all States and Territories
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24 September 2009
The Australian Government will provide $1.4 million in funding to the National Influenza Centres and other public health laboratories to purchase automated influenza testing equipment. Every State and Territory will receive funding as part of this initiative.
This new equipment will enhance the capacity for pandemic influenza testing by Australia’s public health facilities and allow laboratories to handle increased influenza testing demand.
This funding is part of a package of measures provided by the Government as a result of the recent swine flu pandemic.
Pathologists and medical laboratory scientists reported that additional high throughput testing equipment was needed to enable them to process the large volumes of influenza testing required during the Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 outbreak.
Now laboratories in every state and territory will be able to purchase the equipment that is appropriate to the particular needs of their service.
The following hospitals and laboratories will receive funding for the purchase of the new influenza testing equipment:
- Institute of Clinical Pathology & Medical Research (ICPMR) – New South Wales
- South East Area Laboratory Service (SEALS) – New South Wales
- Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL) – Victoria
- PathWest – Western Australia
- Queensland Health Forensic & Scientific Services (QHFSS) – Queensland
- Pathology Queensland – Queensland
- Institute of Medical & Veterinary Science (IMVS) – South Australia
- ACT Pathology – Australian Capital Territory
- Royal Darwin Hospital – Northern Territory
- Royal Hobart Hospital – Tasmania
While demand for influenza testing has started to decline in line with normal seasonal trends, this new equipment will ensure that public health laboratories are well prepared for any future pandemic threats or heightened seasonal influenza activity.
For all media inquiries, please contact the Minister's Office on 02 6277 7220.
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