Dengue tests in 20 minutes

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

Patients with fever can now get tested for dengue in 20 minutes from any Out Patient Department (OPD) of a main state hospital, a Health Ministry Spokesman said.

According to the spokesman, earlier patients with fever had to wait longer because the blood test for dengue fever were taken outside the OPDs. Earlier, blood was sent to the Medical Research Institute (MRI) and other laboratories.

The Health Ministry has now provided laboratory facilities to all main state hospitals. High Dependency Units with ICU beds have already been allocated at state hospitals to treat dengue patients.