A Mycology Unit is Established at the Central Medical Lab

The Central Medical Laboratory has been consumed with endless testing since the advent of COVID-19 last year.  But amid the flood of samples, the lab is also preparing to establish a mycology unit, an area designated for the study of fungi and yeasts.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was instrumental in donating lab equipment, as well as professional training for members of staff.  News Five’s Isani Cayetano reports.

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

The study of fungi and yeasts, otherwise known as mycology, that cause human diseases, is a branch of biology that has not seen much resources being set aside for scientific analysis at the Central Medical Lab.  What the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (CDC), and the Central American Integration System, (COMISCA) have done to assist Belize is to donate three incubators, as well as a centrifuge and an electron microscope to establish a mycology unit.

Aldo Sosa

Aldo Sosa, Senior Medical Technologist, Central Medical Lab

“We are definitely excited, this is something that started some time ago and we are seeing now it being implemented.  Of course, it will take some time for us to better hone our capabilities in testing.  In terms of how it will help.  Definitely, in Belize, there is no place, as far as I am concerned, and no laboratory that tests for fungus or for yeast.”

Dr. Geraldine Morazan is the clinical pathologist at the laboratory.  She says that along with new equipment is an opportunity for lab technicians to train with CDC.

Geraldine Morazan

Dr. Geraldine Morazan, Clinical Pathologist, Central Medical Lab

“We received the donation from COMISCA and CDC in collaboration with Ministry of Health, some equipment like these which are incubators.  We’ve received also some supplies for microbiology and microscopes.  All these equipment that we’ve received is for the implementation of a unit which is the Mycology Unit for Central Medical Lab.  This unit did not exist, so this is a brand new unit that they are installing and we are conducting also some trainings for the microbiology team.”

According to Aldo Sosa, the technical support from both agencies goes a long way in terms of identifying fungal infections.

Aldo Sosa

“This support that we have received from the CDC and from COMISCA, general support I might add, it goes a long way to help us build our capabilities in-country to be able to support more of our population when it comes to these particular infections which generally at times it would be treated without exactly knowing what is the infection or probably a patient would have to be referred to some laboratory outside of the country for testing.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.