Question NW292 to the Minister of Health
07 March 2024 - NW292
Clarke, Ms M to ask the Minister of Health
What (a)(i) is the current backlog on toxicology analysis at the Durban Forensic Chemistry Laboratories, (ii) measures have been put in place to eradicate the backlog and (iii) total number of toxicology tests are run on each day and (b) by what date will the Durban backlog be eradicated?
Reply:
According to the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS):
a) (i) There is no backlog of toxicology cases at the Durban FCL.
The Durban FCL does not offer a full toxicology service. Postmortem cases referred from the Kwazulu-Natal and regions of the Eastern Cape provinces that require analysis for carbon monoxide testing only are processed and completed at the Durban FCL. These comprise a small number of samples and no backlog has developed.
(ii) There is no backlog of toxicology cases at the Durban FCL.
(iii) The Durban FCL receives on average 12 carbon monoxide cases for analysis per month and completes these cases each month.
b) There is no backlog of toxicology cases at the Durban FCL.
END