As of 4 January 2021 the St John drive-thru has collected more than 30 COVID-19 samples and continues to receive request and inquiries from the public for swabbing.
St John Ambulance Commissioner and CEO Matt Cannon said, “St John is providing fast tracked COVID-19 swabbing, and the swab is processed in an authorised private laboratory with results provided within 24 hours.”
“Trained by the WHO, the St John nurses will take COVID-19 samples from your nose and sent to an authorised private laboratory in Port Moresby for testing.”
“The laboratory will conduct the Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Testing (RT-PCR). The type of testing is also required overseas in Australia, Japan, and other countries,” said Commissioner Cannon.
Commissioner added, “With the fast track private testing, a certificate containing the results will be returned within 24 hours through email.”
“Patients can also obtain a hard copy of the certificate from the St John HQ reception at 3 mile,” he said.
Commissioner clarified why there is a cost for testing, saying, “There is a fee for fast-tracked testing to cover the private laboratory fee and the cost to St John of providing a drive-thru or at home sampling. Public patients needing urgent testing because they are sick are encouraged to attend their local hospital.”
The free swabbing testing is expected to return results within 30 days from the CPHL government laboratory. For the private 24 hour results:
Drive Through (PNG Citizen) = K650
Drive Through (Expatriate) = K750
At home/office = K850
Citizens who want to be swabbed can Call 7190 6331 during business hours or email COVID19@stjohn.org.pg .
Drive-thru: 0930 until 1230hrs, Monday to Friday Home: 0900 until 1700hrs, every day.