Dominica’s National Laboratory has launched PCR testing for leptospirosis, improving diagnosis, disease surveillance and public health response.
Dominica: The Ministry of Health, Wellness and Social Services has achieved a major milestone in strengthening the country’s diagnostic and public health surveillance capacity as it announces that the National Laboratory of the Ministry has successfully introduced real time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing for leptospirosis.
This advancement was announced by Lab Superintendent Eric Carbon on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, who noted its importance in the country’s health sector, including improving patient care and preventing further spread of the disease.
“The National Medical Laboratory is pleased to inform of the successful implementation of leptospirosis PCR testing in-country as of June 21st, 2026. This development will allow for the real-time diagnosis of leptospirosis cases and improve the timely responsiveness and public health interventions,” shared Eric Carbon.
Eric Carbon further added that the development “demonstrates the enhanced capacity of the National Laboratory in the detection of emerging and re-emerging diseases of the public health concern” and reduces the need to send samples overseas.
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According to the Ministry of Health, the National Lab is also working to expand its PCR testing portfolio to include other infectious diseases such as measles, RSV, dengue, chikungunya, Zika, COVID-19, influenza, tuberculosis, and more. This expansion will significantly enhance the nation’s surveillance capacity.
With regards to this, the Ministry has encouraged the citizens, especially farmers and outdoor workers, to take caution and remain vigilant during the ongoing hurricane season as leptospirosis risk is bound to increase due to the heavy rainfall and flooding.
The announcement of this milestone was shared by the Ministry of Health on its Facebook page, where it has described the moment as a “major boost in its diagnostic capacity!” The Ministry also reiterated its commitment stating that the milestone “reflects the Ministry’s continued commitment to modern diagnostics, early detection, and the protection of public health in Dominica.”