Another molecular lab in Negros Occidental now operational

ANOTHER molecular laboratory located in the Municipality of Valladolid is now operational and is allocating 80 free Covid-19 tests for the province.

"We will determine who can avail of the free tests," Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said.

He added that the molecular lab has set up a swab booth at the Provincial Health Office for walk-in clients.

The swab samples will then be taken to the molecular lab in Valladolid and the results will be sent electronically directly to the clients.

Diaz clarified that the swab testing for the new lab is not free and it can accommodate 1,000 to 2,000 tests per day once fully operational.

He said the local government units can get in touch with the new lab and forge partnership with them for contact tracing.

The molecular laboratory inside the Valladolid District Hospital (VDH) got 100 percent rating in its proficiency tests given by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM).

Diaz said the Safeguard DNA Diagnostics Incorporated Laboratory passed the 2021 pre-licensing proficiency test for Sars-CoV-2 detection by Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test.

Meanwhile, Diaz warned the public not to be complacent with Covid-19 to avoid the same situation that is happening in India where Covid cases suddenly increased after India celebrates festivals.