Testing center for medical PPE launched in Taguig

MANILA – Personal protective equipment (PPE) used for medical purposes can now be easily and quickly tested locally for their quality and efficiency with the inauguration of a medical textile testing center in Bicutan, Taguig City on Friday.

Beginning July, PPE manufacturers, government agencies, and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) can go to the Philippine Textiles Research Institute's (PTRI) new Medical Textile Testing Center (PMTTC) to avail of the services. The fee, however, is yet to be announced.

They could bring PPE that are heavily in demand amid the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic such as face masks, coveralls, gowns, and drapes for testing at the PMTTC. Through the center's microbiological testing laboratory, they could check the face mask's bacterial filtration efficiency; the PPE clothing's dry and wet microbial penetration, among others.

"In general, most of these (PPE) are using textile materials. So there is a need for a testing facility for textiles, particularly for medical purposes. With the endorsements from the DOH (Department of Health), DTI (Department of Trade and Industry), and the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), we were given a special fund to (put up) this facility," said Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Fortunato de la Peña.

DOST Undersecretary Rowena Guevara said the inauguration of the PMTTC shows the agency's support for the Philippine health sector.

"The unprecedented demand for PPE at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic left us scrambling for materials that could be used as alternatives. While time is crucial, ensuring the quality and adherence to medical safety standards are equally important considerations when purchasing or using PPE," she said.

"The benefit of a prompt delivery will be fully realized when the products are suitable with the required level of protection. We cannot just feel safe. We must actually be safe," Guevara continued.

She said it was in mid-2020 when the DOST realized the gap in local testing capability for medical textiles. The initiative of PTRI to establish the PMTTC bridges this gap by offering testing services for PPE.

Prior to the establishment of the PMTTC, the PTRI has been offering tests on a textile's flammability, fiber identification and composition, abrasion resistance, and bursting strength, among others.

The PTRI, through its Quality Textile Testing laboratories, has been testing some non-medical cloth face masks and reusable non-medical grade PPE.

With the new facility, additional tests would include puncture resistance, antibacterial activity, standard plate count, and zone of inhibition test for medical textiles. (PNA)
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TESTING CENTER. The Philippine Textiles Research Institute's Medical Textile Testing Center (PMTTC), inaugurated on Friday (June 24, 2022), will help manufacturers, government agencies, and businesses in testing their personal protective equipment (PPE). Through the center's microbiological testing laboratory, they could check the face mask's bacterial filtration efficiency; the PPE clothing's dry and wet microbial penetration, among others. (screengrabbed from DOST-PTRI Facebook page)

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