The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has deployed the affordable and locally developed rapid test kit that could detect dengue infection within an hour to the Bicol region.
DOST Secretary Fortunato “Boy” T. de la Peña said medical technologists from 26 district hospitals or public healthcare centers in Bicol were trained on the use of the Biotek-M Dengue Aqua Test Kit and NAAT Lamp (Lab-in-a-Mug) on April 27 to 30 at Mirisbiris Garden and Nature Center, Sto. Domingo, Albay.
"The Biotek-M dengue aqua test will serve as the second level and confirmatory test for dengue disease among patients that were tested negative in NS1 test, but with clinical symptoms of dengue,” he said during his weekly report on Friday, May 7.
He noted that deployment of the aqua test kits, which could detect dengue within an hour, is a collaborative project of the DOST-V, Department of Health (DOH)–Center for Health and Development (CHD) Bicol and Manila HealthTek, Inc.
"Selected hospitals for the deployment are strategically located across the region and accessible to communities assisted under DOST’s Community Empowerment thru Science and Technology (CEST) program,” the DOST chief said.
Biotek-M is part of the “Lab-in-a-Mug Project” which integrates diagnostic kits in an isothermal unit as small as a “mug” and functions as a diagnostic device similar to a portable laboratory, the DOST-V said.
“This local innovation has high sensitivity and specificity, and is robust and less expensive than the current diagnostic tests in the market,” it said.