THE Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) is now a certified testing center for coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

BGHMC can now process Covid–19 test results without the need of sending lab specimens to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Manila for the third confirmatory test.

Prior to the certification of the RITM, the results of confirmatory tests would take as long as five days, but upon the certification by the RITM, the results will be released within the day.

The RITM certification given to BGHMC will serve the Northern Luzon area covering Cordillera and Ilocos and Cagayan Valley Regions.

Meanwhile, City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit Head Doctor Donnabel Tubera-Panes reported that BGHMC received the rapid test kits to be used as a medical tool which would help in the identification of Covid–19 patients.

“We currently have 60 testing kits and based on the approval of the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), this is a rapid diagnostic test with a sensitivity of 82 to 89 percent and a specificity of 97 to 99 percent. There is a guideline by the DFA in terms for this testing, number one, this is not allowed to be used by non-doctors which cannot be brought from any pharmacy and it cannot be used as a personal thing like a pregnancy test,” Tubera-Panes said.

The health official explained the rapid test kits are recommended as a diagnostic tool in labeling an individual as a positive Covid-19 patient.

“The use of these rapid test kits is for immediate results which would take around 15 to 20 minutes which tests the anti-body. We have two anti-bodies consisting of IGM and IGG which will be specific for this but not for Covid. If the patient will turn out to be positive for the rapid diagnostic test, they will be the once to be prioritized for admission to the BGHMC specialized health facility for Covid,” the health official stated.