Space constraints challenge local central testing laboratory

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Director of Analytical Services, Dr Linroy Christian.
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By Kisean Joseph

[email protected]

Antigua and Barbuda’s primary testing laboratory is grappling with infrastructure challenges that threaten to limit its expansion of critical public health services.

The Department of Analytical Services, responsible for testing everything from drinking water to imported foods, finds itself caught between growing demands and limited physical space.

Dr Christian identified inadequate facilities as the department’s most pressing concern. “The most significant challenge is the lack of physical space to deploy all of our equipment and to work adequately to expand on the services,” he said. “Currently we occupy one laboratory location and our other location which is at Dunbar’s is primarily office space and meeting space.”

The space constraints have become quite acute as the department acquires more sophisticated testing equipment through international partnerships. While these acquisitions represent progress, they also highlight certain limitations facing the department.

“We have new equipment for measuring heavy metals, for instance, and we also have new equipment for pesticide analysis,” Dr Christian said. “But that is linked to one of the challenges where some of those equipment, we have to ensure that we have the adequate laboratory environment to deploy them.”

The financial demands of modern laboratory testing aggravate these challenges. Dr Christian points out that even basic testing equipment requires substantial investment. “Testing services are expensive, to be honest. The type of equipment, for instance, if we’re testing pesticide residues, the equipment for doing that, you’re starting at an equipment that may be minimum bare bones cost of US $150,000. That doesn’t include the consumables and it certainly does not include the reagents.”

Despite operating from cramped quarters at the Fisheries Complex, the department continues to provide essential services while expanding its regional role. Recent successes include establishing a Caribbean-wide mercury monitoring network and publishing research on mercury levels in fish species commonly consumed in the region.

 Dr Christian added that a purpose-built facility would enable the department to better serve public health needs and expand its testing capabilities. Meanwhile, the staff continues to work around the challenges.

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