Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 22) – Philippine Red Cross chairman Sen. Richard Gordon disclosed on Wednesday that the humanitarian agency has three COVID-19 testing laboratories capable of performing about 12,000 COVID-19 tests per day.
Gordon said one new laboratory at PRC headquarters in Mandaluyong City is currently operating with two polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machines.
READ: PRC completes first molecular laboratory for increased COVID-19 testing
The two other laboratories — one at another PRC office also in Mandaluyong and another at its Intramuros, Manila office — are still waiting for approval to operate from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine.
Gordon disclosed that each of PRC’s COVID-19 testing machine is capable of processing 1,000 tests per day. Each PRC testing laboratory has four machines, making each laboratory’s output of 4,000 tests per day.
The senator said the initiative of Red Cross will be a significant help in battling the COVID-19 pandemic, which has so far infected 6,710 individuals and claimed 446 lives as of the Department of Health’s latest count Wednesday afternoon.
“We are trying our level best para dito sa labanan sa Maynila, kung saan nandito ang epicenter, matalo natin dito para hindi na kumalat yan,” said Gordon.
[Translation: We are trying our level best so that here in Manila, which is the (COVID-19) epicenter, we can defeat it here and prevent it from spreading further.]
Gordon said those who want to avail of PRC’s COVID-19 test will have to make an appointment through their hotline 1158 and must pay ₱3,500.
He also appealed to those who can afford the price of the testing to sponsor those who cannot.
“Meron na akong nakuha na mga 100 na COVID-19 Samaritans para malibre ang mga mahihirap na walang koneksyon sa PhilHealth or anuman,” said Gordon.
[Translation: I’ve got about 100 COVID-19 Samaritans to cover the poor with no PhilHealth connection or whatever.]
Only those with COVID-19 symptoms are allowed to take the tests at PRC, Gordon said, adding that if the person turned out to be positive of the virus, they may also test those who had direct contact to the patient.
Gordon said some local government units are also coordinating with PRC in conducting mass testing. He mentioned Mandaluyong City, which coordinates with the PRC in testing their frontliners.
“Ang agreement namin, dapat sila ang magsu-swab,” Gordon said. “Kaya nga nagbabayad sila sa amin. Mababawi nila sa PhilHealth yon.“
[Translation: Our agreement is they should do the swabbing. That’s why they are paying us. They can reimburse it from PhilHealth.]
Gordon also shared that test machines procured by PRC from China will be sent to other provinces in Luzon and some areas in the Visayas and Mindanao.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Monday lauded the opening of PRC’s first molecular laboratory for COVID-19.
Roque also remarked the country is close to hitting 20,000 COVID-19 tests per day and the opening of more testing laboratories will boost the fight against the invisible enemy.
