The Xunta de Galicia invested 1,953,666 euros in subsequent supply of reagents and transfer of equipment necessary to perform molecular diagnostic techniques in the Ferrol Health Area Microbiology Laboratory. This is reflected in a document published this week by the Galician Public Procurement Platform.
This document is divided into four lots. one about him molecular diagnostics of virusessuch as HIV or HPV, sexually transmitted infections or respiratory viruses, among others. Second batch of coverage molecular diagnostics using panels gastroenteritis, intestinal parasites, genital ulcers or respiratory viruses, among others. The third item refers to molecular biology from tuberculosis and other microbacteria; and the fourth lot sequencing.
Laboratory improvement
Some of these diagnoses had already been made in the local laboratory, but other determinations were collected by batches They represent an improvement for this laboratorywhich is already a reference for Galicia in some issues such as pneumococcus. As indicated by Andrés Agulla, head of the laboratory’s microbiology service, “this competition includes two special novelties, the incorporation of genetic sequencing at the highest level and the extension of molecular biology techniques.” All of this translates to population v investigating epidemics, studying bacteria or studying resistance to viruses such as HIV or hepatitis B.
The Microbiology Laboratory of the Ferrol University Hospital Complex is located in the Naval Hospital and has greatly expanded its facilities and resources as part of Phase 0 of the Master Plan. generally speaking It is mainly devoted to the monitoring and treatment of samples for the diagnosis of infectious diseases.by, among other things, culturing bacteria in urine, stool, blood or wounds. It also deals with the control of antibiotic resistance, virological studies such as tests related to HIV infection, hepatitis, papillomavirus, influenza or Covid and has a specific area for the analysis of tuberculosis.
Molecular biology
This service also has an area reserved exclusively for Molecular biologya department in which other types of tests for medical conditions such as hepatitis C, HIV or human papillomavirus are routinely carried out. This whole series of tests will be expanded with this new job that is out. Currently, molecular biological tests of the entire area and other determinations, of which there are more than 30,000 per year, are taking place.
Molecular biological assays, as specified in the specifications for this new contract, are used for diagnostic purposesbecause they show the presence of DNA/RNA of possible agents that cause infectious diseases.
This lab is open 24/7 total 30 professionals between doctors, laboratory technicians, nurses and administrative assistantsand share some of the professionals such as cellarswith a central laboratory. In addition, in July 2021, the Microbiological Service of the Faculty Hospital of Ferrol was accredited for teaching. This accreditation means meeting certain standards. In addition to monitoring these standards, we also check the quality standards of this service, as it has been certified by the ESO standard since 2012.
