Tacloban City (CNN Philippines, April 12) – Eastern Visayas may soon have its own COVID-19 testing laboratory, the Department of Health regional office confirmed.
Department of Health (DOH) Region 8 Director Minerva Molon said on Sunday the proposed Regional COVID-19 test center has completed the required self-assessment and risk assessment.
Molon added that about 80 percent of the safety infrastructure requirements have been completed, and 90 percent of the machines required are available.
The Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) machine is also being delivered.
The RT-PCR machine is used to process specimens from patients to see if a person has COVID-19, even if the person is not showing any symptoms.
“This is a highly technical process that not only involves having the kits and the right machine, but also the proper safety infrastructure like a Biosafety Level 2 (BSL2), standard operating procedures for emergencies and highly trained staff on biohazard safety,” Molon said.
The health official added they must follow strict compliance of the requirements to safeguard the welfare of healthcare workers inside the laboratory as well as the surrounding community where the laboratory is situated.
DOH-8 is currently waiting for the assessment team from DOH-Central Office, World Health Organization and RITM to conduct an on-site visit to check the accuracy of self-assessment.
The agency is also working on the Memorandum of Agreement with Leyte Province for the use of the building for testing laboratory, which is located at the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center along Magsaysay Blvd, Tacloban City in Leyte.
Stringer Wil Mark Amazona contributed to this report.
