❓ A parliamentary question addresses the temporary suspension of diagnostic testing services at the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development's (DPIRD) Diagnostics and Laboratory Services (DDLS) in South Perth due to asbestos concerns, and the measures being taken to mitigate disruption.
AnsweredQoN 766Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND
REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT —DIAGNOSTICS AND LABORATORY SERVICES
766. Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS to the Minister for Agriculture and
Food:
I refer to the Department of Primary
Industries and Regional Development's Diagnostics and Laboratory
Services, DDLS, in South Perth.
(1) Can the
minister confirm the current and/or recent closure of some or all of these
vital diagnostic services for the agricultural sector?
(2) If yes to
(1), which services have been closed and not been closed?
(3) Why have
these services been closed?
(4) Is the DDLS
accepting samples from referring veterinarians and agronomists; and, if not,
why not?
(5) When will
services at the DDLS return to normal and when will samples again be accepted?
REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT —DIAGNOSTICS AND LABORATORY SERVICES
766. Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS to the Minister for Agriculture and
Food:
I refer to the Department of Primary
Industries and Regional Development's Diagnostics and Laboratory
Services, DDLS, in South Perth.
(1) Can the
minister confirm the current and/or recent closure of some or all of these
vital diagnostic services for the agricultural sector?
(2) If yes to
(1), which services have been closed and not been closed?
(3) Why have
these services been closed?
(4) Is the DDLS
accepting samples from referring veterinarians and agronomists; and, if not,
why not?
(5) When will
services at the DDLS return to normal and when will samples again be accepted?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1) Direct
provision of DPIRD's diagnostic testing services is currently
suspended.
(2) The department's Diagnostics and
Laboratory Services is receiving service requests from clients, including veterinarians and agronomists, and is triaging those requests. DDLS is able to
receive high-priority biosecurity samples and is storing and facilitating
testing through other federal and state accredited testing providers when
possible. DDLS is also working directly with clients to provide advice on other
testing service options when appropriate. The department is working to
prioritise restoration of critical services, including continuity of testing to
confirm or exclude notifiable pests and diseases.
(3) DPIRD needed to suspend its diagnostic testing
services from its South Perth site based on results received from recent
testing for asbestos onsite.
(4) Yes; DDLS is
receiving high-priority samples. Clients are being asked to contact DDLS prior
to sending any samples to enable DDLS to triage samples based on priority.
(5) A timeline
for DDLS to return to normal services is currently being assessed.
honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1) Direct
provision of DPIRD's diagnostic testing services is currently
suspended.
(2) The department's Diagnostics and
Laboratory Services is receiving service requests from clients, including veterinarians and agronomists, and is triaging those requests. DDLS is able to
receive high-priority biosecurity samples and is storing and facilitating
testing through other federal and state accredited testing providers when
possible. DDLS is also working directly with clients to provide advice on other
testing service options when appropriate. The department is working to
prioritise restoration of critical services, including continuity of testing to
confirm or exclude notifiable pests and diseases.
(3) DPIRD needed to suspend its diagnostic testing
services from its South Perth site based on results received from recent
testing for asbestos onsite.
(4) Yes; DDLS is
receiving high-priority samples. Clients are being asked to contact DDLS prior
to sending any samples to enable DDLS to triage samples based on priority.
(5) A timeline
for DDLS to return to normal services is currently being assessed.
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