RITM stops HIV tests for COVID-19

MANILA,  Philippines — The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) has temporarily suspended its human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) services to focus its resources on efforts to curb the spread of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

In an advisory, the facility located in Muntinlupa City said that it had temporarily put on hold its HIV drug resistance testing and viral load testing so that it could better respond to COVID-19.

New focus“RITM is refocusing its available manpower and resources to augment the needs of the ongoing COVID-19 response. We’ll be regularly posting updates for changes in our operations,” it said.

Apart from managing and treating COVID-19 patients, RITM is also the lead reference laboratory in testing a patient for the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes the severe respiratory ailment.

Because of this, it helps validate if facilities applying to become subnational laboratories are compliant with the biosafety standards required of a testing center. At the same time, it trains the personnel that will man the facility.

Before a testing center can be certified that it is capable of independently testing patients for the coronavirus, it must first be able to pass the RITM’s proficiency test.