BY ADRIAN P. NEMES III
The molecular laboratories of the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City and Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City passed the 2021 External Quality Assessment on SARS-COV-2 detection by Real-Time PCR conducted by the DOH-Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, recently.
The CLMMRH management, in an advisory yesterday, said this achievement indicates that its Molecular Laboratory is at par with the quality standards set by national regulations, thereby ensuring that all results generated are reliable.
The CLMMRH Molecular Laboratory is the first hospital-based Level 3 testing laboratory in the country. The two other Level 3 biosafety laboratories are found at the RITM and at the University of the Philippines-National Institutes of Health.
Meanwhile, the TLJPH Molecular Lab also achieved a 100 percent passing rate in this year’s EQA, a press release from the Capitol said yesterday.
The test procedures performed were Nucleic Acid Extraction, PCR Mastermix Preparation, Real Time RT-PCR, Interpretation of RT-PCR results, and RT-PCR results reporting.
The Lab started its full operation in June 2020 after achieving a 100 percent passing rate in the proficiency testing and granted the license to operate.
Dr. Mary Ann Maestral heads the management of the facility that operates 24 hours with three shifts.
The TLJPH Molecular Lab ensures faster turnaround time for swab results for early detection of Covid-19 infection.
TEMPORARY CLOSURE
The CLMMRH also announced yesterday that it will temporarily close the 5th floor Covid area of the West Tower Building until further notice.
It said the area will undergo thorough cleaning and disinfection to ensure a safe environment for all patients and healthcare workers.
It added that repairs on the resuscitation and medication rooms will be implemented.
The closure of the Covid area will affect the total number of dedicated and functional non-intensive care unit isolation beds of the hospital.
All patients’ transfer should be coordinated through the hospital hotline 0917-1007093 or 7017-865, the advisory said.*
