THE Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC), the only hospital identified as a sub-national laboratory in Mindanao, is now capable of testing samples of suspected individuals who may be infected with the dreaded coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
In a virtual press conference on Monday, March 23, conducted by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Davao, Department of Health (DOH) Davao director Dr. Annabelle Yumang said there are 65 samples already tested at SPMC.
She added that the testing started on March 19 after a total of 100 testing kits arrived in the region. Although there are already initial results, SPMC cannot disclose it yet. The initial results were submitted back to the Research Institute for Tropical Medication (RITM) in Muntinlupa City for validation.
“Mabasa siya diri pero kinahanglang i-validate kay bag-o paman nagsugod atoang testing. Ang RITM mag validate pero naa na tay initial results coming from our laboratory so ipa-validate nalang na kung parehas sila (We can already read the results here but it still needs it to be validated by the RITM),” Yumang said.
RITM will also determine if SPMC is capable to do the testing on its own once the institute is satisfied with how the hospital is conducting the testing.
The public has been clamoring for more testing kits to hasten the detection with the influx of patients under investigation (PUIs).
SPMC’s isolation facility is now packed. To address the growing number, the intensive care unit (ICU) and pay ward are also being utilized.
Given the limited resources, Yumang said the system of testing will be a priority basis. Only those who are admitted in hospitals will be tested first.
Meanwhile, Dr. Cleofe Tabada, chief of DOH Davao Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (RESU), said some SPMC personnel were trained to conduct the testing.
Aside from SPMC, other hospitals identified as sub-national laboratories are San Lazaro Hospital, and Baguio General Hospital & Medical Center in Luzon, Vicente Sotto Medical Center for Visayas and SPMC in Mindanao. These hospitals will have the capacity to process testing of swab samples of PUIs.