By Anthony Giron
IMUS CITY, Cavite – This city is set to operate soon its own molecular biology laboratory that could test for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
This, after the city's laboratory passed the Department of Health (DOH)-Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) proficiency test.
The DOH-RITM test on the laboratory was completed on Friday, May 29, and the result was released the same day.
The laboratory-testing facility is virtually one step away from operation. Mayor Emmanuel Leonardo Maliksi and local health officers and personnel are now just waiting for the official accreditation from the DOH.
“May awa po ang Diyos at isang hakbang na lamang ay magiging fully accredited testing facility na ang ating molecular laboratory, Maliksi said in his latest message posted on his Facebook page. “With God’s mercy and with only a step away, our molecular laboratory will become fully accredited testing facility.)
The laboratory-testing facility was put up in a contemporary building at the compound of the Ospital ng Imus, the city’s first public hospital, on Pedro Reyes Street in Barangay Malagasang I-G.
The facility is expected to speed up the processing of COVID-19 tests in the city.
The City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit reported earlier that Imus has 50 positive cases, with nine deaths and 15 recoveries, and 36 probable and 167 suspected cases.
Reports showed that Imus was on third spot in Cavite in terms of COVID-19 cases, with Bacoor at top spot with 114 positive cases, and Dasmariñas coming in second with 51.