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BARMM explores possible alternative testing for Covid-19

By Albashir Saiden

March 27, 2020, 8:46 pm

<p><strong>ALTERNATIVE TESTING.</strong> Dr. Safrullah Dipatuan, head of the Ministry of Health–Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, shows to reporters an update on the number of coronavirus cases in the region during a press briefing in Cotabato City on Friday (March 27, 2020). The official says the BARMM health department is exploring the use of the GeneXpert, a machine used for testing sputum of tuberculosis patients, for fast results in determining the status of Covid-19 patients.<em> (Photo courtesy of BPI-BARMM)</em></p>

ALTERNATIVE TESTING. Dr. Safrullah Dipatuan, head of the Ministry of Health–Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, shows to reporters an update on the number of coronavirus cases in the region during a press briefing in Cotabato City on Friday (March 27, 2020). The official says the BARMM health department is exploring the use of the GeneXpert, a machine used for testing sputum of tuberculosis patients, for fast results in determining the status of Covid-19 patients. (Photo courtesy of BPI-BARMM)

COTABATO CITY -- The possibility of alternative testing for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) using the GeneXpert machine, which is originally intended for testing tuberculosis (TB), is now being explored by the Ministry of Health–Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MOH-BARMM).

This was bared by the MOH-BARMM minister, Dr. Safrullah Dipatuan during the Bangsamoro Inter-Agency Task Force on Covid-19 press briefing here on Friday.

“In case this pushes through, there would be easy access on testing Covid-19 patients as there is no need to send swab samples anymore to either Davao City or Manila,” Dipatuan said.

Dipatuan added that the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center (CRMC), a Covid-19 referral hospital here, has required laboratories to perform testing using the GeneXpert machine.

“The testing must be done in a biological safety level (BSL) 2 laboratory like the one in CRMC that has a biosafety cabinet and a negative pressure heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. Hence, not all laboratories are qualified to perform this,” Dipatuan said.

He added that what is further needed are additional machines, appropriate testing cartridges, and medical technologists to perform the tests.

Furthermore, he said the MOH-BARMM also is exploring the possibility of installing GeneXpert machines in other BARMM referral hospitals, including the Maguindanao Provincial Hospital in Datu Hoffer, Maguindanao; the Amai Pakpak Medical Center in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur; and other hospitals in the island-province components of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.

A GeneXpert testing unit allows TB bacteria to be detected in the sputum of patients after only two hours.

Currently, the BARMM has 185 persons under investigation (PUIs) and 6,697 persons under monitoring (PUMs). It has also five confirmed Covid-19 cases, two of whom are presently admitted at isolation facilities, one under strict home quarantine, and two fatalities. (PNA)

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