Project ARK waits for DOH okay before starting pilot program of RT-PCR testing

The private sector-led Project ARK (Antibody Rapid Test Kit) is awaiting the green light from the Department of Health (DOH) before it starts its pilot implementation of the pooled reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing among public market vendors and public transport drivers in Metro Manila.

This was disclosed by Iloilo 1st district Rep. and ARK-PCR Private Sector Chief Implementer Janette Garin, after the Philippine Society of Pathologists Inc. (PSP),and the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC) presented the preliminary results of their research study on pooled testing to the DOH.

“The pilot implementation will cover the public market vendors and drivers in the NCR. We are just awaiting the go signal from DOH,” Garin said in a Viber message.

She said they expect that the DOH will issue the necessary guidelines on pooled testing.

But, she explained that “even without the guidelines, we can proceed with the pilot implementation to help DOH craft guidelines for cascading.”

Garin said while, waiting for the DOH’s nod, they are finalizing the details on the pilot implementation of the RT-PCR testing in the National Capital Region (NCR).

During the virtual announcement of the Go Negosyo’s pooled testing research results, Garin said the DOH will “determine or approve” the pilot implementing sites that they have recommended.

She said pilot implementation sites are all government hospitals--four of which are located in Luzon and four others are in Visayas.

In Luzon, the proposed pilot testing implementation sites are Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital, Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Lung Center of the Philippines.

While, University of Cebu Medical Center (UNMed), Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC), Wester Visayas Medical Center (WVMC), and Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC) have been identified as pilot sites in Visayas.

Garin said the identified hospitals, using their own laboratories and using bigger population of 10,000 people, will “replicate” the pooled testing study conducted by the PSP and PCMC.