THE Department of Health (DOH) on Sunday reiterated that only those laboratories certified as a testing facility will receive the first locally-made Covid-19 test kits.
In a virtual press conference, Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the DOH-accredited laboratories across the country are the priority for the test kits developed by the University of the Philippines-National Institutes Of Health (UP-NIH).
This, as the DOH also reported that as of 4 p.m. of April 19 (Sunday), 172 new cases (PH6088-6259) of Covid-19 were recorded, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 6,259.
DOH reported 56 new recoveries, bringing the total number of recoveries to 572.
Meanwhile, 12 new deaths were recorded. There are now a total of 409 deaths in the country.
First kits
Likewise, during the DOH virtual press conference, Dr. Raul Destura of the University of the UP-NIH said they are opening the first testing kits on Monday (April 20) at the UP -NIH.
Destura said they produce kits good for 6,000 to 8,000 tests per day.
“We are targeting to increase to 16,000 tests per day by May 1,” Destura said.
“Based on our capacity to run, para di masira ang kit [to prevent damage to the kit], we have 25 reactions (in a kit). That is the maximum allowable physiologically,” he added.
The locally-made Covid-19 GenAmplify™ Covid-19 rRT PCR Detection test kits are also PCR tests and not rapid tests.
That is why, Vergeire said, only DOH-certified Covid-19 testing laboratories and facilities can be used for UP-NIH testing kits.
The first locally-made Covid-19 test kits were made by scientists from the UP-NIH, through its research and development firm Manila HealthTek, Inc.
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) funded the project.
Destura said that their inspiration to develop the kit is their “role” as scientists to combat Covid-19.
“We only have one enemy here, the Covid-19,” he said, as he appealed to the public to play their part as well while the country is facing the current crisis.
“Our role is as scientists. We are the ones who are supposed to help the government and the DOH provide the science, provide the scientific levels of testing so that we can help provide them with tools to combat this disease. We only have one enemy and we will help the DOH as much as we can,” Destura said.