BAGUIO CITY, May 13(PIA)– The Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center(BGHMC) is running its RT–PCR (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) machines at full capacity in line with its expanded mass testing mandate for COVID – 19.
Dr. Leamor Fangonilo, BGHMC Public Health Unit Head, reported during the DOH–Cordillera-led online media briefing Tuesday that with three RT–PCR machines and even with limited number of medical technologists working in their molecular laboratory, COVID – 19 testing is running at its full capacity. It is even testing a maximum of 300 specimens a day to cope with the test specimens from regions 1, 2 and CAR.
Fangonilo disclosed that in the past 24 hours they have ran 682 test processes bringing their backlog to 1,670. By continuing to work double time and with the availability of 5,750 more test kits, they hope to clear their back log and return to the normal processing.
BGHMC as a sub-national laboratory for COVID – 19 has already processed 8,040 tests including 3,183 test specimens from CAR.
For the expanded mass testing, DOH–CAR OIC Regional Director Dr. Amelita Pangilinan shared that priority are the geographical areas that have confirmed cases like Baguio and Benguet. Other local government units have already been directed to regulate the submission of test specimens and prioritize suspect cases that have moderate to severe symptoms.
Pangilinan calls for the understanding on the expanded mass testing since at the moment it is still focused on risk – based testing and cannot be implemented yet for the general public.
With the pandemic still far from over, Fangonilo said COVID-19 detection and management will be a new normal that BGHMC will continue to integrate in improving its overall health services. **JDP/CCD-PIA CAR
