THE University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Hospital (HKU-SZH) on Tuesday launched a one-stop nucleic acid testing service for cross-border students from the mainland to facilitate their returning to Hong Kong to resume classes, Shenzhen Special Zone Daily reported yesterday.

The testing venue is located in the International Medical Center (IMC) of the hospital. Service hours are weekdays from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and weekends from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., according to the hospital.

Registration fee is 100 yuan (US$14) and a nucleic acid test costs 75 yuan. Results can be produced within 24 hours after the testing.

Medical costs of the service can be covered by medical insurance.

Students can make a reservation by calling 0755-86913388 if they need nucleic acid testing, the hospital said.

Joe Fan, head of the IMC, said the availability of the service will be subject to the time specified in the relevant policies formulated by the governments of Shenzhen and Hong Kong.

According to Fan, the IMC has adopted strict infection control measures to eliminate the possibility of cross infection. Moreover, a special parking space is reserved near the sampling point and the bilingual test report in Chinese and English can be sent to the student or parents via e-mail.

“The whole process (of the testing) takes less than 10 minutes, which is very suitable for Shenzhen people living a fast-paced life,” Fan said.

According to the hospital, as of Monday, HKU-SZH has provided nucleic acid testing service for nearly 30,000 people.

The hospital also arranged special shifts to be stationed at Huanggang Checkpoint and Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint on March 27 and April 10, to offer testing service for cross-border truck drivers to and from Shenzhen and Hong Kong.

(Zhang Yu)