1st COVID-19 testing facility in Central Luzon opens in Pampanga
Published May 10, 2020 12:00 am
By Donna Rempillo
SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – The Molecular and Diagnostic Pathology Laboratory of Jose B. Lingad Regional Memorial Hospital (JBLRMH) will start operations Sunday, May 10, a day after the Department of Health (DOH) gave it the license to operate.
Photos from Pampanga PIO/ MANILA BULLETIN
The testing laboratory was funded through a $3-million grant from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund, which was approved last March.
“I would like to thank our partners who continuously support the DOH specially during this most difficult time. We value our partnership with our stakeholders which helps us strengthen our mechanisms in providing the health needs of our countrymen,” DOH Secretary Francisco Duque said.
Considered by the DOH as a Pandemic Sub-national Reference Laboratory, the first coronavirus disease testing facility in Central Luzon could process 3,000 tests a day in full capacity.
JBLRMH Medical Chief, Dr. Monserrat Chichioco said this testing capacity gradually increase.
“Initially, it will be on an eight-hour operation to run 500 to 1,000 tests a day until the laboratory operates 24 hours, therefore, targeting about 3,000 tests a day. Continuous recruitment of laboratory scientists and medical technologists, and training of newly hired laboratory personnel will be implemented to reach the 24-hour operation,” she disclosed.
Though the operation will be manned solely by trained personnel of the regional hospital, DOH Regional Director Cesar Cassion noted that the Guidelines on Expanded Testing shall be the basis of receiving samples for testing.
“COVID-19 facilities and DOH-retained hospitals in the region are the priority for referral. Once JBLMGH has scaled-up and operates 24 hours, local government and private hospitals can send their letter of intent and can have their Memorandum of Agreement with JBLMGH,” Cassion added.
And to underscore the provincial government’s resolve to fast-track mass testing in Pampanga, Governor Dennis Pineda announced that 10,000 test kits have been allotted for the province.
This would be apart from that the Philippine Survey and Research Center will conduct on 800 randomly-picked households.
“With the new laboratory, the province could now rapidly conduct mass testing for those who are COVID-19 positive, suspected, under monitoring, frontliners, and other individuals. Our plans to conduct random testing of 800 up to 20,000 individuals are possible to ensure the safety of the province and its people from the virus.” Pineda said.
Photos from Pampanga PIO/ MANILA BULLETIN
The testing laboratory was funded through a $3-million grant from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund, which was approved last March.
“I would like to thank our partners who continuously support the DOH specially during this most difficult time. We value our partnership with our stakeholders which helps us strengthen our mechanisms in providing the health needs of our countrymen,” DOH Secretary Francisco Duque said.
Considered by the DOH as a Pandemic Sub-national Reference Laboratory, the first coronavirus disease testing facility in Central Luzon could process 3,000 tests a day in full capacity.
JBLRMH Medical Chief, Dr. Monserrat Chichioco said this testing capacity gradually increase.
“Initially, it will be on an eight-hour operation to run 500 to 1,000 tests a day until the laboratory operates 24 hours, therefore, targeting about 3,000 tests a day. Continuous recruitment of laboratory scientists and medical technologists, and training of newly hired laboratory personnel will be implemented to reach the 24-hour operation,” she disclosed.
Though the operation will be manned solely by trained personnel of the regional hospital, DOH Regional Director Cesar Cassion noted that the Guidelines on Expanded Testing shall be the basis of receiving samples for testing.
“COVID-19 facilities and DOH-retained hospitals in the region are the priority for referral. Once JBLMGH has scaled-up and operates 24 hours, local government and private hospitals can send their letter of intent and can have their Memorandum of Agreement with JBLMGH,” Cassion added.
And to underscore the provincial government’s resolve to fast-track mass testing in Pampanga, Governor Dennis Pineda announced that 10,000 test kits have been allotted for the province.
This would be apart from that the Philippine Survey and Research Center will conduct on 800 randomly-picked households.
“With the new laboratory, the province could now rapidly conduct mass testing for those who are COVID-19 positive, suspected, under monitoring, frontliners, and other individuals. Our plans to conduct random testing of 800 up to 20,000 individuals are possible to ensure the safety of the province and its people from the virus.” Pineda said.