BACOLOD CITY — A laboratory in Silay City, which is capable of conducting 1,000 reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests for the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) per day, is ready to operate.
Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital molecular laboratory has two PCR machines and one automatic extractor.
They are also expecting the arrival of another PCR unit from the Department of Health.
The molecular laboratory staff did the first-ever test run on Monday using the available control kits.
“It was very successful. We hope to be able to serve the Negrenses as soon as we pass the proficiency testing to be given by RITM (Research Institute for Tropical Medicine) this week,” Lacson said.
The Doctors’ Hospital Inc. in Bacolod City, which has one RT-PCR machine, will also start operating next week, while the Bacolod Queen of Mercy Hospital and Adventist Medical Center–Bacolod is setting up its COVID-10 testing biolabs.
Biolabs for COVID testing at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital and the Philippine Red Cross office in Bacolod City are also expected to be operational soon.