Manila’s 2nd molecular lab gets perfect score in DOH proficiency test

Manila's second molecular laboratory at Sta. Ana Hospital scored 100 percent in the proficiency test conducted by the Department of Health (DOH)-Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM).

This means that the laboratory will soon be available for use, Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso said in a Facebook post on Wednesday night.

The P8.5-million laboratory is equipped with biosafety cabinets class II, two PCR hoods, two biomedical refrigerators for reagents, two freezers, eight computer sets, a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) or the Bag-In and Bag-Out Filter, and two Daan Natch CS extraction machines. 

It is seen to boost Manila's testing capacity to 1,000 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests per day.

Domagoso said they will continue to offer free tests to both residents and non-residents of the city as part of their inclusive approach to battling the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19).

After launching the second laboratory, the Manila mayor ordered the city government to conduct free tests for vendors of public markets, drivers of public transportation, restaurant and hotel employees, and other workers in the city.

The local chief executive said they have already conducted 27,280 PCR tests and 71,258 serology tests as of Wednesday morning. 

Manila has a total of 16,250 cases as of Thursday noon. Of this number, 674 are active cases, 15,076 have recovered, while 500 have died.