This archive report was first published on 17 July 2020.
Director of the Lancet Lab, Ahmed Kalebi, has announced he will take a break from social media to focus on his lab, which has been criticized for producing inconsistent COVID-19 test results.
On July 17, 2020, Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe ordered an investigation into the lab after 18 students from St. Andrews Turi School tested positive for COVID-19 after being tested at the Lancet Lab.
However, after retesting the students at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), it was found that they did not have COVID-19.
Responding to the criticism, Kagwe said, "It is true that the Lancet Lab produced inconsistent results, the lab confirmed that the students had COVID-19 but after retesting at KEMRI, it was found that they did not have the virus."
Following the controversy, Kagwe ordered the lab to be investigated and warned other labs to be shut down if they produce inconsistent results.
Director Kalebi has since announced that he will take a break from social media for an unknown period to focus on his lab and produce accurate results.
"For my dear fans, I would like to inform you that I will be taking a break from social media for a few days to focus on my lab and ensure that we produce accurate results and avoid the mistakes we made earlier," Kalebi said.
