MANILA, Philippines — Five sub-national laboratories in the Philippines will soon confirm test samples for the deadly coronavirus disease (COVID-19) after being accredited by the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Muntinlupa City, the only facility now that can test specimens for COVID-19.
In a press conference on Saturday, RITM Director Dr. Celia Carlos said they have finished evaluating the five laboratories.
“The five sub-national labs being provided capacity to test (for COVID-19 cases) completed training and proficiency test yesterday – all of them passed,” Carlos said at the Department of Health office in Tayuman, Manila.
The five laboratories include the San Lazaro Hospital and Lung Center of the Philippines in Manila, the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center in Northern Luzon, Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in the Visayas region and the Southern Philippines Medical Center in Mindanao.
The laboratories are capable of using reagents or testing agents to confirm cases of COVID-19 in the Philippines.
Carlos said it is still evaluating the facilities of the University of the Philippines – National Institutes of Health if the laboratory is competent for testing samples for the disease.
She added that since they are awaiting deliveries of more testing kits, they are mulling to give their remaining reagents to laboratories in Manila as most of the confirmed cases are from Metro Manila.
Currently, RITM has 2,500 test kits in their laboratory.
More test kits from WHO
Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe, representative of the World Health Organization (WHO), said they will send more test kits to help the RITM and Department of Health (DOH) to fast track testing of specimens.
“WHO is responding to request from the Department of Health and particularly RITM. There is a need to recognize there is a huge local demand for these reagents and testing agents,” he said during the press briefing.
Just last week the WHO delivered around 5,000 test kits to the RITM, Abeyasinghe said.
Carlos said the RITM is also initiating procurement of the same test kits from foreign suppliers.
Health Chief Francisco Duque III said they are still seeking validation from the WHO on the accuracy of the proposed rapid test kits, which will allow a faster confirmation of cases of COVID-19.
“DOH is determined to expand our testing capacity for COVID-19 to immediately ascertain that cases are identified and dealt with. We are studying these proposals to ensure that they are accurate and safe for the public’s use,” Duque said.
“Enhanced testing capacity is a prerequisite to prevention and containment, hence DOH is placing expansion of testing centers as its topmost priority,” he added.