Health & Fitness

$4.7M Molecular Virology Lab Opens At Jefferson Cherry Hill Hospital

The new lab can develop PCR tests for known and emerging pathogens, and was established through a state pandemic preparedness grant.

Michelle Rotuno-Johnson's profile picture
Michelle Rotuno-Johnson, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
L-R: Lisa Dutterer, VP Operations at Jefferson Cherry Hill; Judith M. Persichilli, NJ Commissioner of Health; Dr. Zi-Xuan Wang, Molecular Virology Lab Project Director; Cherry Hill Mayor Susan Shin Angulo, Louis D. Greenwald, NJ Assembly Majority Leader.
L-R: Lisa Dutterer, VP Operations at Jefferson Cherry Hill; Judith M. Persichilli, NJ Commissioner of Health; Dr. Zi-Xuan Wang, Molecular Virology Lab Project Director; Cherry Hill Mayor Susan Shin Angulo, Louis D. Greenwald, NJ Assembly Majority Leader. (Jefferson Cherry Hill Hospital)

CHERRY HILL, NJ — A new laboratory at Jefferson Cherry Hill Hospital will be able to test for COVID-19 and other viruses much more quickly and develop tests for new and emergency pathogens, the hospital said.

Hospital staff welcomed NJ Commissioner of Health Judith M. Persichilli to Cherry Hill on Thursday to unveil the project, which was established through a $4.7 million pandemic preparedness grant from the state Department of Health.

An instrument in the new lab is capable of performing more than 3,000 tests in 24 hours, the hospital said.

Find out what's happening in Cherry Hillfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

"Working in collaboration with the Jefferson Health Genomic Laboratory in Philadelphia, the new lab also has the capability to develop new PCR tests for both known and emerging pathogens, and will help with community preparedness for any future pandemics."

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

More from Cherry Hill