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Molecular lab in Cebu police camp OK'd to conduct COVID tests

Philippines | Luzon

Molecular lab in Cebu police camp OK'd to conduct COVID tests

By Calvin Cordova

CEBU CITY – The molecular laboratory that was constructed inside Camp Sotero Cabahug here has been given clearance to start conducting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) testings.

In a March 17 statement, Police Lt. Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar, officer-in-charge of Philippine National Police (PNP), said the Department of Health (DOH) has granted them license to operate its molecular laboratory in Cebu City.

“We are glad to inform the public that the PNP Regional Health Service 7 Molecular Laboratory to be used for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) testing of police personnel has been given by the Department of Health (DOH) a clearance to operate today after finalizing the necessary permits and the training of the PNP medical personnel who will operate the facility,” said Eleazar.

Eleazar said the testing facility will process swab samples from all police officers in the entire Visayas area. The laboratory can accommodate 80 to 120 tests per day through real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) techniques.

“With this great development, our PNP-Health Service is in close coordination with the PNP- Directorate for Comptrollership for the purchase of reagents and supplies needed by the Regional Health Service (Central Visayas) Molecular Laboratory so that it can finally takeoff full well in serving its principal clients, our police personnel,” he added.

Construction of the P10-million facility started last June 2020 and was completed and inaugurated in November of the same year.

The molecular laboratory in Camp Sotero Cabahug, where the Cebu City Police Office is situated, is by far the only PNP-funded COVID-19 testing lab outside Metro Manila.

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