The public has cast doubt on the integrity of a popular COVID-19 test lab chain after a woman allegedly received positive results a day before her scheduled swab.
In a video that has widely circulated online, a woman behind the camera complained to employees at the SCBD, South Jakarta branch of the COVID-19 testing lab Bumame Farmasi. During the pandemic, Bumame has emerged as one of the most popular COVID-19 testing labs, with their convenient drive-thru facilities popping up by the numbers throughout major Indonesian cities.
Kamis, 3 Februari 2022
— Agus Susanto III (@cobeh2021) February 3, 2022
Zakiah
BELUM Menjalani Test Apa-2
Tapi
Sudah Keluar
Hasil Test Antigen & PCR-nya
Dinyatakan
POSITIF COVID-19
.
Bumame Farmasi
Sudirman Central Business District (SCBD)
Jakarta Selatan
.https://t.co/sGNQleB1f7 pic.twitter.com/Dyk5bCmblb
“I was sent, though I haven’t been [to Bumame], an antigen test result. Then this morning I was sent a PCR test result even before I came here,” the woman said in the video.
“This is so weird, I haven’t come here but I was sent my results. Both of them even showed positive results [of COVID-19]. This is detrimental to me, I’m going to fly to Bali, but I can’t be allowed because you sent me false test results before I came here.”
The woman, who’s identified by her initial Z, said that she had filed a complaint on Bumame’s website but had not received any response. Z said yesterday that she received direct messages from people who had similar experiences with Bumame after she posted her video on Instagram.
Bumame has issued a public apology and blamed the incident on an administrative mix-up at the branch in question. According to them, Z likely received the test results of a customer with the same name.Meanwhile, Ampi Retnowardani, the chairwoman of the Jakarta Regional Management of the Indonesian Health Laboratory Association (ILKI), said that Bumame, as well as a number of new COVID-19 testing labs, is not a registered member of the association. Members routinely receive guidance in accordance with Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) standards.
