Subject: FW: COBAS6800 system for COVID 19 diagnostics
From: Tamar Gabunia </O=EXCHORGANIZATION/OU=EXCHANGE ADMINISTRATIVE GROUP (FYDIBOHF23SPDLT)/CN=RECIPIENTS/CN=E6CA04F38EC94D0CADAB9CBDF90FCDDE-TAMAR G>
To: Maia Nikoleishvili </o=ExchOrganization/ou=Exchange Administrative Group (FYDIBOHF23SPDLT)/cn=Recipients/cn=2d9c4ecc95234453ad52ccfeaee8a8ee-Maia Ni>
Date: Thu, 07 May 2020 09:37:58 +0000

From: Tamar Gabunia
Sent: 30 April, 2020 22:07
To: 'George Kiziria' <[email-masked]>
Cc: Anzor tchavtchavadze <[email-masked]>; Nikoloz Gagua <[email-masked]>
Subject: COBAS6800 system for COVID 19 diagnostics

Dear Giorgi

As requested please find below a brief justification to support procurement of COBAS 6800 systems for COVID 19 diagnostic purposes.

Importance of ramping up testing capacity.

Due to strict social distancing rules and swift government actions Georgia has managed the outbreak of Covid-19 comparably well, as of 30.042.2020 we have 539 cases and only 6 deaths. But the strict measures that supported this results can’t remain permanently and with gradual easing of restrictions the number of infected people will increase. Best way to curb the spread of the virus is vigorous testing of population, to identify and isolate infected people before they spread the virus to others, Experience of other countries has proved the effectiveness of that strategy.

According to WHO and CDC guidelines: PCR testing is considered only viable diagnostic tool for novel corona virus, which provides the results with high accuracy from the early stages of infection. PCR- testing requires longer processing time and well trained Personal alongside high class laboratories.

At this moment Georgia Is testing around 1000 people a day  (PCR tests) and by the end of the May we hope to increase that number to  3000. This number of tests combined with social distancing measures is enough to curb the growth of the virus but with easing of restriction it will be necessary to ramp-up the testing and Cobas 6800 by Roche will increase testing capacity by 2000 tests per day and will significantly  increase the chances to manage the infection successfully.

Cobas 6800 by Roche will also reduce the workload in Lugar’s Center (National Center for Disease Control and Public Health), which is responsible for more than 70 percent of all PCR testing in the country.

Due to a geographical outlay of Georgia it is impractical to transfer the samples from West to East and presence of two machines in different locations will further decrease the waiting time for test results.

Location of Cobas 6800 devices and operation.

Cobas 6800 devices will be located and operated by the Lugar’s laboratory of the National center of Disease control and Public Health in two different locations in Tbilisi and one of its regional branches

Personnel qualification

NCDC has experienced operators and scientists with high level of technical skills and with experience of working with similar machinery.

Price of reagents

Overall Price for reagents needed for one test is 25 Euros through Roche’s official distributor. Reagents will be procured by the State within the state COVID 19 response program.

Should you have additional questions please let me know.

პატივისცემით,

თამარ გაბუნია

მინისტრის პირველი მოადგილე

Sincerely,

Tamar Gabunia, MD, MPH

First Deputy Minister