MANILA, Philippines — The Muntinlupa City government opened on Thursday its own molecular laboratory to boost its capacity for COVID-19 testing.
Ospital ng Muntinlupa director Dr. Edwin Dimatatac said the laboratory started processing reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests on Wednesday, with test results to be released within the day of the collection of swab samples.
Under the approved pricing scheme, the RT-PCR swab test performed at the Muntinlupa Molecular Laboratory costs P3,800.
According to the Department of Health, there are a total of 83 molecular labs in the National Capital Region that can process swab samples. Of these, only 33 are publicly owned, with two in Muntinlupa: the city-owned lab and the national government’s Research Institute for Tropical Medicine. —DEXTER CABALZA