DOH opens first LGU Molecular Laboratory in CALABARZON
CALAMBA CITY, Laguna, June 11 (PIA) --The first local government unit (LGU) - initiated molecular laboratory in CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) was formally opened to the public June 6, 2020 after the Department of Health (DOH) approved its license to operate to effectively address and diagnose COVID 19 cases in Imus and neighboring municipalities.
Regional Director Eduardo C. Janairo lauded the local government of Imus led by Mayor Emmanuel L. Maliksi for initiating the very important endeavor.
“Ito ang dapat na matupad sa ating mga LGU sa ating rehiyon, ang magkaroon ng tulungan upang makapagtaguyod ng mga proyektong magdudulot ng pagbabago lalo na sa larangan ng pangkalusugan. Kailangang maging independent na tayo sa mga health facilities sa Metro Manila at palakasin natin ang kakayahan ng ating mga pasilidad upang hindi na tayo umasa pa sa mga pagamutan sa labas ng ating rehiyon.”
Dr. Janairo emphasized, “Ang laboratoryong ito ay isang napakagandang proyekto upang masagot ang pangangailangang pangkalusugan ng ating mamamayan. Ito ay magagamit natin hindi lang ngayong panahon ng epidemya kundi sa susunod pang henerasyon at sa maraming paraan at pagsusuri ng iba pang mga sakit upang mabigyan natin ng agarang lunas.”
Located inside the compound of the Ospital ng Imus in Cavite, the testing facility is the second LGU- instituted laboratory in the country with the first one located in the City of Marikina. It is the country's 54th DOH-accredited CoViD-19 Testing Facility.
It has two Polymerase chain reaction or PCR machines and can handle 400 test a day. “We will be expecting three more PCR machines so that we can conduct more tests of at least 3,000 a day,” Janairo disclosed. (PIA-4A/DOH-CALABARZON)
The use of PCR in infectious disease diagnosis results in the early diagnosis and treatment due to its rapid ability to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility of slow growing organisms, and ascertain the quantum of infection.
The LTO of the city’s laboratory was given after a series of evaluation which was completed on May 29, 2020 and passing the proficiency test conducted by the DOH-Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) with a score of 5 out of 5 or 100 percent.
Janairo assured the people of Imus that the regional office will work for the level 3 accreditation of the “Ospital ng Imus” to better serve the health needs of the community and all Cavitenos.
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