Operations of 2 molecular labs for COVID-19 in Bohol suspended

TAGBILARAN CITY –– The operations of the two molecular laboratories in Bohol have been suspended.

Dr. Cesar Tomas Lopez, spokesperson of the Bohol Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF), said the supply of “reagents’ of the P20-million containerized reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) laboratory center, owned by the provincial government of Bohol, had been depleted.

A reagent is a substance used to carry out a laboratory test to evaluate the presence of the SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Reagents may be used in a chemical reaction to detect, measure, or make other substances.

Lopez said the stocks are now in Manila but they have to wait for the first available flight on Friday, Oct. 23.

“We (will) resume as soon as possible when reagents arrive. Nothing wrong with brand new equipment as falsely posted by bashers,” he said.

The operation of the Molecular Laboratory maintained by the Governor Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital (GCGMH) was also suspended for maintenance of the negative-pressure ventilation system.

“This is to inform the public that the COVID-19 Testing Laboratory Section of our Molecular Pathology is CLOSED until further notice. The negative-pressure ventilation system of the section will soon be undergoing a corrective maintenance procedure,” the GCGMH said in an advisory.

Last Oct. 17, all samples had been diverted to the Regional Epidemiological Surveillance Unit to be sent to the Cebu TB Reference Laboratory for COVID-19 Testing Facility of the Department of Health-Region 7 in Cebu City.

Before, swab samples from patients in Bohol had to be taken to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) in Cebu City.

The presence of PCR laboratories in Bohol boosted the capacity of Bohol province for the processing of swab samples.

ZB

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TAGS: Bohol, Operations, Philippine news updates, reagents, Regions