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Covid-19 testing lab formally opens in Bulacan

By Manny Balbin

June 25, 2020, 7:08 pm

<p><strong>COVID-19 TESTING LAB.</strong> Bulacan Governor Daniel Fernando (third from right), Dr. Hjordis Marushka Celis, Provincial Health Officer II (2nd from left), together with some public officials, lead the inauguration of the first Covid-19 testing laboratory in Malolos City on Thursday (June 25, 2020). Known as the Bulacan Medical Center GeneXpert RT-PCR Laboratory, it is located at the compound of the government-run Bulacan Medical Center in Malolos.<em> (Photo by Manny Balbin)</em></p>

COVID-19 TESTING LAB. Bulacan Governor Daniel Fernando (third from right), Dr. Hjordis Marushka Celis, Provincial Health Officer II (2nd from left), together with some public officials, lead the inauguration of the first Covid-19 testing laboratory in Malolos City on Thursday (June 25, 2020). Known as the Bulacan Medical Center GeneXpert RT-PCR Laboratory, it is located at the compound of the government-run Bulacan Medical Center in Malolos. (Photo by Manny Balbin)

CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan – The first rapid polymerase chain reaction (PCR) laboratory in this province was formally opened on Thursday as part of efforts to contain the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

The Bulacan GeneXpert RT-PCR Laboratory, located at the compound of the government-run Bulacan Medical Center here, is fully owned and operated by the provincial government.

It received its license to operate last Saturday.

Governor Daniel Fernando, Dr. Hjordis Marushka Celis, Provincial Health Officer II, and pathologist Dr. Bernadette Espiritu, led the opening ceremony which was also attended by other local government officials, as well as public and private health officers, among others.

Fernando said the facility will help them hasten the testing process for easy identification of positive Covid-19 cases and at the same time, improve the contract tracing process.

"The purpose of testing is to separate and quarantine those who have contracted the virus from the bigger population that do not have it. We will have a better picture of the extent, severity, and location of those infected and can act accordingly to safeguard the public,” he said.

The governor said 48 tests can be done in the laboratory on a 12-hour duration.

He said the GeneXpert machine can simultaneously analyze four samples or specimens per 45 minutes of running time.

Celis, who will lead the laboratory personnel, said all staff who will man the laboratory are trained in biosafety and biosecurity and passed the competency assessment, written proficiency, and practical examinations.

“Bulacan is very fortunate to have this kind of facility at tayo lang ang isa sa pinakaunang nagkaroon nito sa buong rehiyon kasi ang requirement ay dapat BSL2 (Biosafety Level 2), ang laking tulong nito sa pag-test (and we are among the first in the entire region to have it because the requirement must be BSL2 (Biosafety Level 2). This is a big help in the testing. The license was issued last June 19, but was emailed to us June 20,” she said.

Meanwhile, Espiritu said the PCR machine can finish processing a specimen up to the printing of result in just 45 minutes.

“Ang maganda dito 'yung fear of contamination is very minimal kasi pagdating sa sample niloload mo na lang siya, meron siyang four modules, since 45 minutes lang ang running time, technically 48 ang magagawa natin every day, ang running namin is 12 hours (What is good about this is the fear of contamination is very minimal because the sample will just be simply loaded. There are four modules and since the running time is only 45 minutes, technically we can do 48 every day with a running time of 12 hours),” she said.

Espiritu noted that the machine has been in the province since 2015, being used in the treatment of multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis patients.

She added that they are expecting another GeneXpert machine from the Department of Health (DOH).

“It’s only the DOH na merong ganitong cartridge. Kaya hindi natin kailangan bumili, binibigay lang kasi kasama sa program nila. So, the more na cartridges na nagamit namin mas marami 'yung ibabalik nila sa amin. Mabilis siya kasi 'pag sinabi n'yang negative it’s really negative. Pag-positive talagang positive. Connected na rin 'yung printer. Di ba maraming OFW na stranded, they can avail of this. Mas mabilis kesa sa pipila pa sila sa PCR (It is only the DOH that has such kind of cartridge. That is why there is no need for us to purchase. The cartridge is being given by the DOH and it is part of their program. The more cartridges that we used, the more that they will bring back to us. It is fast because if it gives a negative result, it is really negative. If positive, it is indeed positive. The printer is also connected. Since there are many OFWs that are stranded, they can avail of this. It is faster than if they fall in line for the PCR),” Espiritu said.

Apart from Covid-19 swab samples, she said they will continue to do tests for other diseases. (PNA)

 

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