SPMC specimen testing expands to 1,000 per day

SOUTHERN Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) will soon have the capacity to test an average of 1,000 samples per day, as it already has four real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) machines.

In an interview on Monday, May 25, with SPMC medical professional staff chief Dr. Ricardo Audan, he said they initially have two RT-PCR machines in their laboratory but last week, two RT-PCR machines, donated by the business conglomerate San Miguel Corporation (SMC), arrived.

Along with the two RT-PCR machines is a high-throughput automated RNA extraction system that would take less time and human intervention.

"Diba ang testing namo naga 150 to 300 the most so karon times 3, mga [around] 1,000 because of the automated extractor kay katong duha ka original, mano-mano man mi (Previously, we can test an average of 150 to 300 samples per day, but now, it tripled. We can now test around 1,000 because of the automated extractor unlike before where we do it manually)," Audan said.

SPMC will not be able to test more patients who are suspected of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19). The increased testing capacity will also help determine the extent of the contagion and lessen the risk of transmission.

Audan said the machines have not yet been used because it has yet to be installed by the engineer from SMC.

SPMC expects that the machines will be operational this week.

"This is a big help because this is the gold standard compared to rapid test kay kung mag rapid test pa, antibodies raman siya tan-awon (If we do rapid testing, it only detects the antibodies and not the virus)," said Audan.

Meanwhile, the City Government of Davao has been intensifying its community case finding using a rapid diagnostic test (RDT), but the results generated would still have to undergo the RT-PCR machine for a confirmatory test.

From March 21 to May 24, SPMC has recorded a total of 234 Covid-19 patients with 109 recoveries and 25 deaths.

SPMC is preparing for an expected surge of Covid-19 following the region's shift to a general community quarantine that relaxed some restrictions and allowed more movement of people.

Meanwhile, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said during a radio interview on 87.5 Davao City Disaster Radio on Monday, May 25, that more laboratories in Davao City will soon be able to operate its own Covid-19 testing facility. It will augment the testing capacity of the SPMC, which is the only institution in Davao Region accredited by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine to conduct tests on Covid-19.

Earlier, she said five medical institutions in the city are eyeing to be testing centers. These are tuberculosis laboratory in DOH Davao compound, Davao Doctors Hospital (DDH), Brokenshire Hospital, Detoxicare Davao One World Diagnostic Center Inc., and Davao City Health Office Laboratory in Los Amigos.

Duterte-Carpio said once the private hospital will be accredited, individuals can avail themselves of the testing. But she said it will be free for individuals who were referred by the Davao City Health Office (CHO) to be tested.

"Naa na siyay bayad kay private. Mao pod na ang reason nag nagbutang ta sa atong Bayanihan. Makit-an ninyo nag-allot ta ug payment for testing because gi-expect nato na nga nay private Covid-19 testing laboratory nga mag open and naa tay ikabayad (There will be payment for Covid-19 testing in private hospitals. That's the reason why we allocated budget from Bayanihan grant for the payment of testing because we expected that private hospitals may open Covid-19 testing laboratory)," Duterte-Carpio said.

She added, "But ang atoang gi-refer para sa mga testing nga giingon sa doctor nga kaya nato itesting dili siya pwede sa katong muingon: nga magpa-test ko bayri ninyo (We will refer those patients which will be recommended by the doctors who need to be tested but not those individuals who would say: I want to be tested, pay for my test)."

For instance, if an employer wants their employees to be tested, the employer will shoulder the testing.

The mayor said they are expecting the Detoxicare Davao One World Diagnostic Center Inc. to be accredited by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine soon.

The private laboratory is already done with the proficiency test and is just waiting for their certification.

It will be followed by DDH or Tuberculosis Laboratory. DDH is set to acquire the RT-PCR machine within this week or next week.

Duterte-Carpio has no update yet on the application of Brokenshire while the Davao City Health Office has yet to apply and renovate for a biosafety level 2 laboratory.

The health office is also complying with requirements like acquiring the needed equipment.