Provide document for RT PCR Test

Ajay Singh made this Freedom of Information request to Victorian Department of Health

This request has been closed to new correspondence from the public body. Contact us if you think it ought be re-opened.

Victorian Department of Health did not have the information requested.

Dear Victorian Department of Health and Human Services,

For the my URN 56506144, for which RT PCR test was done on 15Sep

Please provide the product manual for the RT PCR test that was used for this test which includes but not limited to how to use the the kit, limitation of kit , what this kit should be used for, what cycle is preferred etc.

If possible please provide the report which confirms if RT PCR successfully detected the exact variant of SARS COV2

Please provide document that mentions which all organisation both private and public did have access to the swab samples or document where such agreement to share the swab samples exist

Yours faithfully,

Ajay Singh

FOI Health (HEALTH), Victorian Department of Health

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Singh

I refer to your application under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the
Act) requesting access to:

"For the my URN 56506144, for which RT PCR test was done on 15Sep Please
provide the product manual for the RT PCR test that was used for this test
which includes but not limited to how to use the the kit, limitation of
kit , what this kit should be used for, what cycle is preferred etc If
possible please provide the report which confirms if RT PCR successfully
detected the exact variant of SARS COV2 Please provide document that
mentions which all organisation both private and public did have access to
the swab samples or document where such agreement to share the swab
samples exist”

Your application was received on 11 January 2022.

Invalid request – Application fee required

The Act provides that an application fee of $30.10 must accompany each
request. In the current circumstances, the department's preferred method
of payment is via the Victorian Government's online FOI portal at the
below link:

[1]https://online.foi.vic.gov.au/foi/reques...

Please quote your reference number (F22/0052) in the "Request Details"
section of the online form. You do not need to provide the wording of your
request again.

The Act also provides that the application fee may be waived or reduced if
payment of the fee would cause financial hardship. If you consider this to
be the case the fee may be waived or reduced on production of evidence of
how the payment of the application fee would cause you hardship. 

As stated on the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner’s
website, an applicant should provide evidence of hardship when they are
requesting an agency to waive or reduce the application fee:

‘If you request the application fee to be waived or reduced, you should
provide evidence of hardship – for example, a concession or health care
card, a bank statement, or statutory declaration outlining why payment
would cause you hardship.’

Please note your request cannot proceed until the application fee or
evidence of hardship has been received as it is not a valid request.

I would appreciate it if you would respond by Wednesday 2 February 2022,
 otherwise I will assume that you do not wish to proceed and no further
action will be taken by the department.

Anticipated delays in processing

Please also note that, due to a high volume of requests, we are currently
experiencing significant delays in processing times. Once you have made
your request valid, you may be contacted in the course of processing your
request to seek an extension of time for providing a decision on your
request.

Thank you very much for your patience and understanding.

If you have any questions in relation to your request, please direct all
correspondence relating to your request to [2][email address].

Kind Regards,

 

Authorised Officer | Freedom of Information

Legal, Privacy and Integrity

Department of Health

[3]www.health.vic.gov.au

 

We acknowledge the traditional Aboriginal owners of country throughout
Victoria and pay our respect to them, their culture and their Elders past,
present and future.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OFFICIAL

This email contains confidential information intended only for the person
named above and may be subject to legal privilege. If you are not the
intended recipient, any disclosure, copying or use of this information is
prohibited. The Department provides no guarantee that this communication
is free of virus or that it has not been intercepted or interfered with.
If you have received this email in error or have any other concerns
regarding its transmission, please notify [email address]

This email and/or attached documents may include Victorian protective
markings as set out by the Office of the Victorian Information
Commissioner (OVIC). More information on protective markings can be found
[4]here

References

Visible links
1. https://online.foi.vic.gov.au/foi/reques...
2. mailto:[email address]
3. http://www.health.vic.gov.au/
4. https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/protective-m...

Dear FOI Health (HEALTH),

Payment has been made. The reciept number is 3121897917 and customer reference is 48806

Yours sincerely,

Ajay Singh

FOI Health (HEALTH), Victorian Department of Health

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Singh

 

Thank you for your email and making payment.

 

Your application payment was received on 11 January 2022.

 

Next steps for your request

 

In responding to the application, it is our policy to make preliminary
enquiries to determine:

•             if the department is in possession of the documents you are
requesting;

•             how many documents are involved; and

•             the effort required in retrieving and assessing the
documents.

 

If we require anything further from you based on the result of these
preliminary enquiries, we will be in contact with you to discuss.

 

We endeavour to undertake these initial enquiries as quickly as possible,
however, please note that due to the high volume of FOI requests currently
being processed by the Department, we are currently experiencing
significant delays in processing times, and this may take longer than
anticipated.

 

As a result, you may be contacted in the course of processing your request
to seek an extension of time to the legislated due date for providing a
decision on your request.

Thank you very much for your patience and understanding.

We can be contacted via email at [email address]. Please quote your
request reference number (F22/0052) in any correspondence.

 

Kind Regards,

 

Authorised Officer | Freedom of Information

Legal, Privacy and Integrity

Department of Health

[1]www.health.vic.gov.au

 

We acknowledge the traditional Aboriginal owners of country throughout
Victoria and pay our respect to them, their culture and their Elders past,
present and future.

 

 

 

 

 

 

show quoted sections

FOI Health (HEALTH), Victorian Department of Health

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Singh

 

I have attempted to contact your nominated email address for your request
F22/0044 with has not been successful.

 

As such, I am emailing your alternative FOI request email in relation to
this as I have been successful in sending emails to this address.

 

Please see below in relation to F22/0044:

I refer to your application under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the
Act) requesting access to:

"1. Please provide what research / data / consultation thag has been done
so far that proves that face masks can successfully prevent catching
coronavirus and / or all its known variants ie SARS COV2 2.Please provide
list of manufacturers that has approved face mask products recommended by
goverment for protection against coronavirus and / or all its known
variants ke SARS COV2 3. Please provide numbers of hours that face mask
can be worn without causing harm due to excessive CO2 intake. Also provide
list of known side effects of continuous wearing face masks 4. Please
provide how many patients diagnosed in hospitals have been confirmed to
have omicron variants since the omicron variants arrived in Australia. 5
please provide if RTPCR test can detect and differentiate all the known
variants of coronavirus SARS COV2 ?"

Your application was received on 10 January 2022.

Invalid request – Application fee required

The Act provides that an application fee of $30.10 must accompany each
request. In the current circumstances, the department's preferred method
of payment is via the Victorian Government's online FOI portal at the
below link:

[1]https://online.foi.vic.gov.au/foi/reques...

Please quote your reference number (F21/0044) in the "Request Details"
section of the online form. You do not need to provide the wording of your
request again.

The Act also provides that the application fee may be waived or reduced if
payment of the fee would cause financial hardship. If you consider this to
be the case the fee may be waived or reduced on production of evidence of
how the payment of the application fee would cause you hardship. 

As stated on the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner’s
website, an applicant should provide evidence of hardship when they are
requesting an agency to waive or reduce the application fee:

‘If you request the application fee to be waived or reduced, you should
provide evidence of hardship – for example, a concession or health care
card, a bank statement, or statutory declaration outlining why payment
would cause you hardship.’

Please note your request cannot proceed until the application fee or
evidence of hardship has been received as it is not a valid request.

I would appreciate it if you would respond by Monday 7 February 2022,
 otherwise I will assume that you do not wish to proceed and no further
action will be taken by the department.

Anticipated delays in processing

Please also note that, due to a high volume of requests, we are currently
experiencing significant delays in processing times. Once you have made
your request valid, you may be contacted in the course of processing your
request to seek an extension of time for providing a decision on your
request.

Thank you very much for your patience and understanding.

If you have any questions in relation to your request, please direct all
correspondence relating to your request to [2][email address].

Kind Regards,

 

Authorised Officer | Freedom of Information

Legal, Privacy and Integrity

Department of Health

[3]www.health.vic.gov.au

 

We acknowledge the traditional Aboriginal owners of country throughout
Victoria and pay our respect to them, their culture and their Elders past,
present and future.

 

 

 

 

 

 

OFFICIAL

This email contains confidential information intended only for the person
named above and may be subject to legal privilege. If you are not the
intended recipient, any disclosure, copying or use of this information is
prohibited. The Department provides no guarantee that this communication
is free of virus or that it has not been intercepted or interfered with.
If you have received this email in error or have any other concerns
regarding its transmission, please notify [email address]

This email and/or attached documents may include Victorian protective
markings as set out by the Office of the Victorian Information
Commissioner (OVIC). More information on protective markings can be found
[4]here

References

Visible links
1. https://online.foi.vic.gov.au/foi/reques...
2. mailto:[email address]
3. http://www.health.vic.gov.au/
4. https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/protective-m...

Dear FOI Health (HEALTH),

Payment for (F21/0044) has been made
Payment Receipt Number
3124195626

Customer Reference Number
48903

Yours sincerely,

Ajay Singh

FOI Health (HEALTH), Victorian Department of Health

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Singh

 

Thank you for your payment for F22/0044, which was received on 14 January
2022.

 

Given there were difficulties with sending emails to the designated email
for this request, I will send further correspondence to this email
address, which is designated for your other request F22/0044.

 

Next steps for your request

 

In responding to the application, it is our policy to make preliminary
enquiries to determine:

 

•             if the department is in possession of the documents you are
requesting;

•             how many documents are involved; and

•             the effort required in retrieving and assessing the
documents.

 

If we require anything further from you based on the result of these
preliminary enquiries, we will be in contact with you to discuss.

 

We endeavour to undertake these initial enquiries as quickly as possible,
however, please note that due to the high volume of FOI requests currently
being processed by the Department, we are currently experiencing
significant delays in processing times, and this may take longer than
anticipated.

 

As a result, you may be contacted in the course of processing your request
to seek an extension of time to the legislated due date for providing a
decision on your request.

 

Thank you very much for your patience and understanding.

 

We can be contacted via email at [email address]. Please quote your
request reference number (F22/0044) in any correspondence.

 

Kind regards,

 

Authorised Officer | Freedom of Information

Legal, Privacy and Integrity

Department of Health

[1]www.health.vic.gov.au

 

We acknowledge the traditional Aboriginal owners of country throughout
Victoria and pay our respect to them, their culture and their Elders past,
present and future.

 

 

 

 

show quoted sections

FOI Health (HEALTH), Victorian Department of Health

2 Attachments

 

Dear Mr Singh

 

Please find attached correspondence in relation to your Freedom of
Information request F22/0044.

 

Kind regards,

 

Authorised Officer | Freedom of Information

Legal, Privacy and Integrity

Department of Health

[1]www.health.vic.gov.au

 

We acknowledge the traditional Aboriginal owners of country throughout
Victoria and pay our respect to them, their culture and their Elders past,
present and future.

 

 

 

 

 

OFFICIAL

This email contains confidential information intended only for the person
named above and may be subject to legal privilege. If you are not the
intended recipient, any disclosure, copying or use of this information is
prohibited. The Department provides no guarantee that this communication
is free of virus or that it has not been intercepted or interfered with.
If you have received this email in error or have any other concerns
regarding its transmission, please notify [email address]

This email and/or attached documents may include Victorian protective
markings as set out by the Office of the Victorian Information
Commissioner (OVIC). More information on protective markings can be found
[2]here

References

Visible links
1. http://www.health.vic.gov.au/
2. https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/protective-m...

FOI Health (HEALTH), Victorian Department of Health

1 Attachment

Good afternoon Mr Singh

 

I refer to your application under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the
Act) for access to:

 

“For the my URN 56506144, for which RT PCR test was done on 15Sep Please
provide the product manual for the RT PCR test that was used for this test
which includes but not limited to how to use the the kit, limitation of
kit , what this kit should be used for, what cycle is preferred etc If
possible please provide the report which confirms if RT PCR successfully
detected the exact variant of SARS COV2 Please provide document that
mentions which all organisation both private and public did have access to
the swab samples or document where such agreement to share the swab
samples exist”

 

In accordance with section 21(2)(b) of the Act, an agency can extend the
period for which a decision for a request is required to be provided by a
period of no more than 30 days at a time, with the express agreement of
the applicant.

 

Therefore, due to the high workload of internal stakeholders involved in
processing the request, I would like to request that you agree to extend
the time frame by a period of 30 days.

 

I would appreciate if you could please indicate whether you agree to this
extension to the legislated time frame for processing the request. If you
agree to the above extension, the due date on your request will be Monday
14 March 2022.

 

Please note that you are also welcome to provide an alternative period of
extension if you believe the number of additional days requested above to
be unsatisfactory.

 

Kind regards,

 

Authorised Officer | Freedom of Information

Legal, Privacy and Integrity

Department of Health

[1]www.health.vic.gov.au

 

We acknowledge the traditional Aboriginal owners of country throughout
Victoria and pay our respect to them, their culture and their Elders past,
present and future.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OFFICIAL

This email contains confidential information intended only for the person
named above and may be subject to legal privilege. If you are not the
intended recipient, any disclosure, copying or use of this information is
prohibited. The Department provides no guarantee that this communication
is free of virus or that it has not been intercepted or interfered with.
If you have received this email in error or have any other concerns
regarding its transmission, please notify [email address]

This email and/or attached documents may include Victorian protective
markings as set out by the Office of the Victorian Information
Commissioner (OVIC). More information on protective markings can be found
[2]here

References

Visible links
1. http://www.health.vic.gov.au/
2. https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/protective-m...

Dear FOI Health (HEALTH),

I am happy to extend the due date

Yours sincerely,

Ajay Singh

Dear FOI Health (HEALTH),

I am ok with requested extension

Yours sincerely,

Ajay Singh

FOI Health (HEALTH), Victorian Department of Health

4 Attachments

Dear Mr Singh

 

Please see the attached correspondence in regarding your above-mentioned
Freedom of Information request.

 

Kind regards,

 

Authorised Officer | Freedom of Information

Legal, Privacy and Integrity

Department of Health

[1]www.health.vic.gov.au

 

We acknowledge the traditional Aboriginal owners of country throughout
Victoria and pay our respect to them, their culture and their Elders past,
present and future.

 

 

 

 

OFFICIAL

This email contains confidential information intended only for the person
named above and may be subject to legal privilege. If you are not the
intended recipient, any disclosure, copying or use of this information is
prohibited. The Department provides no guarantee that this communication
is free of virus or that it has not been intercepted or interfered with.
If you have received this email in error or have any other concerns
regarding its transmission, please notify [email address]

This email and/or attached documents may include Victorian protective
markings as set out by the Office of the Victorian Information
Commissioner (OVIC). More information on protective markings can be found
[2]here

References

Visible links
1. http://www.health.vic.gov.au/
2. https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/protective-m...

FOI Health (HEALTH), Victorian Department of Health

4 Attachments

Dear Mr Singh

 

Please see the attached correspondence in regarding your above-mentioned
Freedom of Information request.

 

Kind regards,

 

Authorised Officer | Freedom of Information

Legal, Privacy and Integrity

Department of Health

[1]www.health.vic.gov.au

 

We acknowledge the traditional Aboriginal owners of country throughout
Victoria and pay our respect to them, their culture and their Elders past,
present and future.

 

 

 

 

OFFICIAL

This email contains confidential information intended only for the person
named above and may be subject to legal privilege. If you are not the
intended recipient, any disclosure, copying or use of this information is
prohibited. The Department provides no guarantee that this communication
is free of virus or that it has not been intercepted or interfered with.
If you have received this email in error or have any other concerns
regarding its transmission, please notify [email address]

This email and/or attached documents may include Victorian protective
markings as set out by the Office of the Victorian Information
Commissioner (OVIC). More information on protective markings can be found
[2]here

References

Visible links
1. http://www.health.vic.gov.au/
2. https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/protective-m...

FOI Health (HEALTH), Victorian Department of Health

4 Attachments

Dear Mr Singh

 

Please see the attached correspondence in regarding your above-mentioned
Freedom of Information request.

 

Kind regards,

 

Authorised Officer | Freedom of Information

Legal, Privacy and Integrity

Department of Health

[1]www.health.vic.gov.au

 

We acknowledge the traditional Aboriginal owners of country throughout
Victoria and pay our respect to them, their culture and their Elders past,
present and future.

 

 

 

 

OFFICIAL

This email contains confidential information intended only for the person
named above and may be subject to legal privilege. If you are not the
intended recipient, any disclosure, copying or use of this information is
prohibited. The Department provides no guarantee that this communication
is free of virus or that it has not been intercepted or interfered with.
If you have received this email in error or have any other concerns
regarding its transmission, please notify [email address]

This email and/or attached documents may include Victorian protective
markings as set out by the Office of the Victorian Information
Commissioner (OVIC). More information on protective markings can be found
[2]here

References

Visible links
1. http://www.health.vic.gov.au/
2. https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/protective-m...

FOI Health (HEALTH), Victorian Department of Health

1 Attachment

Good afternoon Mr Singh

 

I refer to your application under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the
Act) for access to:

 

“For the my URN 56506144, for which RT PCR test was done on 15Sep Please
provide the product manual for the RT PCR test that was used for this test
which includes but not limited to how to use the the kit, limitation of
kit , what this kit should be used for, what cycle is preferred etc If
possible please provide the report which confirms if RT PCR successfully
detected the exact variant of SARS COV2 Please provide document that
mentions which all organisation both private and public did have access to
the swab samples or document where such agreement to share the swab
samples exist”

 

In accordance with section 21(2)(b) of the Act, an agency can extend the
period for which a decision for a request is required to be provided by a
period of no more than 30 days at a time, with the express agreement of
the applicant.

 

Therefore, due to the high workload of internal stakeholders involved in
processing the request, I would like to request that you agree to further
extend the time frame by a period of 30 days.

 

I would appreciate if you could please indicate whether you agree to this
further extension to the legislated time frame for processing the request.
If you agree to the above extension, the due date on your request will be
Monday 11 April 2022.

 

Please note that you are also welcome to provide an alternative period of
extension if you believe the number of additional days requested above to
be unsatisfactory.

 

Kind regards,

 

Authorised Officer | Freedom of Information

Legal, Privacy and Integrity

Department of Health

[1]www.health.vic.gov.au

 

We acknowledge the traditional Aboriginal owners of country throughout
Victoria and pay our respect to them, their culture and their Elders past,
present and future.

 

 

 

 

 

 

OFFICIAL

This email contains confidential information intended only for the person
named above and may be subject to legal privilege. If you are not the
intended recipient, any disclosure, copying or use of this information is
prohibited. The Department provides no guarantee that this communication
is free of virus or that it has not been intercepted or interfered with.
If you have received this email in error or have any other concerns
regarding its transmission, please notify [email address]

This email and/or attached documents may include Victorian protective
markings as set out by the Office of the Victorian Information
Commissioner (OVIC). More information on protective markings can be found
[2]here

References

Visible links
1. http://www.health.vic.gov.au/
2. https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/protective-m...

FOI Health (HEALTH), Victorian Department of Health

2 Attachments

Dear Mr Singh,

 

Please find attached the Notice of Decision for the above mentioned
request.

 

We apologise for the delay in our response.

 

Kind regards,

Authorised Officer | Freedom of Information unit 
Legal, Privacy and Integrity 
Department of Health 

[1]www.health.vic.gov.au

 

 

 

OFFICIAL

This email contains confidential information intended only for the person
named above and may be subject to legal privilege. If you are not the
intended recipient, any disclosure, copying or use of this information is
prohibited. The Department provides no guarantee that this communication
is free of virus or that it has not been intercepted or interfered with.
If you have received this email in error or have any other concerns
regarding its transmission, please notify [email address]

This email and/or attached documents may include Victorian protective
markings as set out by the Office of the Victorian Information
Commissioner (OVIC). More information on protective markings can be found
[2]here

References

Visible links
1. http://www.health.vic.gov.au/
2. https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/protective-m...