NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO. 2402
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 20 SEPTEMBER 2013
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 31)
Mr G R Krumbock (DA) to ask the Minister of Health:
With reference to the reply to question 2066 on 3 September 2013, how long
did it take on average in (a) 2012, (b) 2011, (c) 2010, (d) 2005 and (e)
2000 to analyse a blood sample at the forensic laboratory in Pretoria from
the time it was dispatched from a SA Police Service station to the time the
results were received?
NW2886E
REPLY:
The average turn-around time was calculated by using the difference between
the date the sample was received at the Forensic Chemistry Laboratory (FCL)
in Pretoria and the date that the result was authorised for the various
samples received in the specific year. Two weeks were added to allow for
the printing, signing and collecting of reports.
The average turnaround time for ante-mortem blood samples analysed for
alcohol was as follows:
a) In 2012: 26 weeks. The FCL received 23,862 ante-mortem
blood samples during 2012.
b) In 2011: 30 weeks. The FCL received 17,686 ante-mortem
blood samples during 2011.
c) In 2010: 24 weeks. The FCL received 11,553 ante-mortem
blood samples during 2010.
d) In 2005: 14 weeks. The FCL received 7,829 ante-mortem
blood samples during 2005.
e) In 2000: 20 weeks. The FCL received 6,299 ante-mortem
blood samples during 2000.
END.