NEGROS OCCIDENTAL CITY BIOLAB READY TO OPERATE

BACOLOD CITY: The Teresita Jalandoni Provincial Hospital Molecular Laboratory in Silay City “is finally ready to operate,” according to Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson.

"We have two PCR (polymerase chain reaction) machines and one automatic extractor; plus, we are expecting the arrival of another PCR unit from the [Department of Health]," Lacson said.

"The molecular lab staff did our first-ever test run today using the available control kits. It was very successful," the governor pointed out.

Lacson said he hopes the laboratory will "be able to serve the Negrense as soon as we pass the proficiency testing to be given by the [Research Institute for Tropical Medicine] this week," he said.

The governor added that the provincial government is awaiting the approval of the application that it sent for the GenExpert laboratory.

Rayfrando Diaz, provincial administrator, said there are 12,000 testing kits ready at the bio-lab.

Diaz added that the operation of the molecular laboratory "is timely at the height of the influx of returning OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) to the province this week."

"We are not even at the first wave of Covid-19 (coronavirus disease 2019). Because of this biolab, we would immediately determine results and act appropriately on any possible situation," he said.

With the operation of the bio-lab in the province, results of swab specimens taken from suspected persons would be released faster as they would no longer be submitted to the Western Visayas Medical Center in Iloilo City. EUGENE Y. ADIONG