Pooled test to boost Covid fight – Binay

THE results of pooled testing for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) that would be piloted in Makati City would have a “big impact” on mass testing protocols, Mayor Mar- Len Abigail Binay said on Thursday.

She explained that pooled testing could lead to “more efficient” handling of Covid cases nationwide. On Wednesday, the mayor signed a memorandum of agreement with the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC), Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship and BDO Foundation to formally begin the pilot implementation of the pooled reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction testing that was developed under Project ARK-PCR (antibody rapid test kit-polymerase chain reaction).

Under the pooled testing method, swab samples of multiple individuals are tested at the same time. If the result is positive, all the individuals in the pool will be tested separately. If the swab test comes back negative, there is no need to test everyone in the batch.

“I am honored that Makati City is taking the lead in this groundbreaking initiative. Covid-19 is bigger than all of us. As mayor, I will gladly take on additional responsibility if it would lead to better testing, isolation, and treatment for patients infected with the coronavirus,” Binay said.

She added that public utility vehicle drivers and market vendors would be given priority when testing starts on August 15.

The result of the pilot test will be shared with other local government units (LGUs) to help them improve their own Covid-19 protocols.

At the end of the one-month test period, Makati is expected to come up with a pooled testing protocol, which will enable the city and other institutions to optimize the availability of test kits, reduce the workload on testing laboratory staff, identify and isolate large groups of negative cases which will make testing more cost-effective, as well as provide LGUs and businesses better and clearer direction for decision-making.

“Makati has the means, resources and, more importantly, the commitment to go beyond simply treating persons with coronavirus. We want to help improve processes and lighten the load of our overburdened healthcare workers,” Binay said.

“We may not find a cure or a vaccine in the very near future, but we can improve how communities handle testing and isolation. I believe this is a very important first step,” she continued.

As of Wednesday, Makati City had 2,297 confirmed Covid- 19 cases, of which 1,119 have recovered and 133 have died.