Jakarta, INTI - The Provincial Government of South Kalimantan is developing an international-standard molecular biology laboratory to strengthen healthcare services, particularly in enhancing the accuracy of infectious disease detection and cancer screening.
Facility and Technology Development
Head of the South Kalimantan Regional Health Laboratory, Arlan Prabowo, stated that the development is being carried out in Banjarbaru.
The facility includes a laboratory space built to meet Biosafety Level 2 Plus (BSL-2+) standards.
The laboratory supports diagnostic testing using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technology.
Molecular biology services are no longer limited to COVID-19 testing.
They have been expanded to cover the diagnosis of various other diseases, including HPV DNA testing.
HPV DNA testing is utilized for cervical cancer screening as part of the government’s priority program to control non-communicable diseases.
Capacity and Service Enhancement
The number of test samples continues to grow over time, driven by collaborations with regencies and municipalities across South Kalimantan.
These regions send specimens to the provincial laboratory for centralized analysis.
The South Kalimantan Regional Health Laboratory is also now capable of conducting PCR tests to detect tuberculosis (TB), supporting faster response to one of the region’s major infectious diseases.
Human resource readiness has been strengthened with the involvement of a clinical microbiology specialist overseeing laboratory operations.
Laboratory analysts have also received specialized training in molecular biology.
Moving forward, the laboratory aims to further expand its service coverage to include the detection of a wider range of infectious diseases and cancers.
This development aligns with the growing demand for technology-driven healthcare services in South Kalimantan.
Conclusion
The development of an international-standard molecular biology laboratory marks a significant step forward in strengthening healthcare services in South Kalimantan, enabling more accurate disease detection and expanding cancer screening capabilities.
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