The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) and Department of Health (DOH) have certified the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) in Bacolod City to perform pooled testing on Covid-19 swab specimens using reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

The CLMMRH, in a statement, said that the certification shall be implemented by the molecular laboratory in accordance with the approved and verified Standard Operating Procedures.

Pooled testing means the hospital can analyze five specimens at a time.

It will be cheaper and faster, without sacrificing the test result reliability, the CLMMRH said.

“The essence of this is we can monitor the SARS-CoV2 status of a group of individuals in a community like healthcare workers in a health facility for surveillance monitoring at a more reasonable price," it added. (APN)