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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider UP scientists lauded for COVID-19 test kits

UP scientists lauded for COVID-19 test kits

Published Apr 4, 2020 12:00 am
By Vanne Terrazola Senator Joel Villanueva lauded on Friday the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) approval of the University of the Philippines-developed COVID-19 testing kits for public use. A Manila Healthek Inc. staff shows the COVID-19 test kit developed by experts from the Philippine Genome Center and the National institute of Health of the University of the Philippines- Manila at press conference at the University of the Philippines Diliman yesterday. The kit, which was recently allowed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is aimed to rapidly detect presence of the coronavirus in an individual. (PHOTO/ ALVIN KASIBAN) (ALVIN KASIBAN / MANILA BULLETIN) "Finally, our locally-developed COVID-19 test kits have the green light for public use by the Food and Drug Administration. We commend our scientists from the University of the Philippines (UP) for coming up with this critical diagnostic tool that will help our government save lives from COVID-19," Villanueva, chair of the Senate Committee on Higher, and Technical and Vocational Education, said in a statement. "With this development, we can expand our testing capability, identify and treat patients with dispatch.” The senator said such "breakthrough" in the country's efforts against the coronavirus pandemic proves the importance of supporting research initiatives of state universities and colleges (SUC). "Research outputs in the form of laboratory-made face shields, disinfectants, processed food and these test kits made by our SUCs are the tangible fruits of the investments we made in creating and developing knowledge in our higher education institutions," he said.
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