SPMC can now process swab samples

THE Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC), the only hospital identified as a sub-national laboratory in Mindanao, is now capable of testing samples of suspected individuals who may be infected with the dreaded coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

In a virtual press conference on Monday, March 23, conducted by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Davao, Department of Health (DOH) Davao regional director Dr. Annabelle Yumang said that that there are 65 samples which were already tested at SPMC.

She added that the testing started on March 19 after a total of 100 testing kits arrived in the region. Although there are already initial results, however, SPMC cannot disclose it yet. The initial results were submitted back to the Research Institute for Tropical Medication (RITM) in Muntinlupa City for validation.

“Mabasa siya diri pero kinahanglang i-validate kay bag-o paman nagsugod s atoang testing. Ang RITM mag validate pero naa na tay initial results coming from our laboratory so ipa validate nalang na kung parehas sila (We can already read the results here but it still needs it to be validated by the RITM),” Yumang said.

RITM will also determine if SPMC is capable to do the testing on its own once the institute is satisfied with how the hospital is conducting the testing.

The public has been clamoring for more testing kits to hasten the detection with the influx of patients under investigation (PUIs).