Kitchener lab ordered to stop selling PCR tests to long-term care homes
A Kitchener lab that processes COVID-19 tests was ordered to stop selling them to long-term care and retirement homes by the Ministry of Labour.
Epitome processes PCR tests and started privately selling the tests to homes in December 2021.
The CEO of the company, James Yantzi said he was selling them to 35 homes in the GTA and Waterloo Region. Last Friday, he said he was ordered by the Ministry of Health to stop that part of his operation.
“Because the nursing homes are covered by the province,” said Yantzi.
He said his goal was to help with the province's testing network, recently swamped and backlogged since the Omicron variant.
“During the backlog it was more severe somewhere between five to 10 days for the results back. And I understand now it’s between two to four days,” said Yantzi.
Yantzi said the turnaround time at Epitome for PCR tests at long-term care homes and nursing homes was about 12 to 48 hours.
According to a spokesperson from the Ministry of Health, concerns were raised about Epitome’s private testing.
The spokesperson said Epitome’s testing was outside the scope of their lab licence to perform.
“Private PCR testing results are not uploaded into the provincial laboratory information system, and are not entered into the public health case and contact management information system, which means that they cannot be effectively used to inform public health response and support outbreak management in these settings,” said W.D. Lighthall, a spokesperson with the Ministry of Health.
The statement also said the Ministry of Long-Term Care visited with some LTC homes in the Kitchener-Waterloo area and clarified for them that laboratories providing publicly funded COVID-19 PCR testing must meet licensing requirements, including the ability to upload results to the provincial lab information system, in order to provide publicly funded COVID-19 PCR testing.
“It it’s just a bit frustrating for us to want to contribute to the local community and not be able to participate in the efforts,” said Yantzi. “The province set up a network of 70 labs and they have 10 to 15 in Toronto and Ottawa and Hamilton and London because you Kitchener-Waterloo doesn’t have an additional lab.”
The province confirmed that Epitome has not submitted a request to the ministry to change their licence to provide publicly funded tests.
Yantzi said he plans to look into doing so in the near future.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks
Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.