DOH in Bicol fears delay in COVID-19 testing in absence of kits

LEGAZPI CITY—The Department of Health (DOH) in Bicol on Tuesday (March 24) disclosed that a severe shortage of kits could delay tests to confirm suspected carriers of COVID-19 in two government hospitals here which had been designated for COVID-19 cases.

Dr. Ernie Vera, DOH chief in Bicol and also regional Interagency Task Force (IATF) chair, said the department was still waiting for the arrival of COVID-19 test kits expected to be delivered this week.

He, however, said that in the absence of the test kits, the agency continued to take respiratory samples, or droplets, from suspected COVID-19 carriers.

The samples are being delivered to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Metro Manila for testing.

The DOH was preparing the Bicol Regional Diagnostic Reference Laboratory facility at the Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital as a test site.

Edited by TSB

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