Dear Doctors,

In view of the local and global situation of COVID-19, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) appeals to private medical practitioners in the community to collect respiratory specimens from patients presenting with fever or respiratory symptoms, especially patients with travel history outside Hong Kong within 14 days before onset of symptoms, and send to an accredited private microbiology laboratory for transport to the Public Health Laboratory Services Branch (PHLSB) for SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test.

You might have received the enclosed invitation letter from the Communicable Disease Branch of CHP which details the recommendations of handling specimens, the requirements for requesting for SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test, and the guideline on the procedures for collection of deep throat saliva specimens for patients.

Let’s joint hand to safeguard the health of people in Hong Kong.

Thank you for your attention.

Yours faithfully,
GOPC PPP Programme Office
Hospital Authority