Mandaluyong to open molecular diagnostic facility

The Mandaluyong City local government inspected on Wednesday its newest Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory as it ramped up its COVID-19 detection and response efforts as the city continues to grapple with the new surge in COVID-19 cases brought about by the more infectious Omicron and Delta variants, according to a report by Manila Bulletin.

In a set of photos posted on her official Facebook page, Mandaluyong City Mayor Menchie Abalos, together with city government officials and health experts, inspected the laboratory located inside the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) compound as it prepares to open the facility to help the city in its COVID-19 response, mainly in swab testing its residents.

The local government unit (LGU) said that the laboratory is fitted with state-of-the-art testing equipment and is operated by highly-trained individuals to ensure that all RT-PCR tests that will be done in the facility are safe and accurate. It added that the primary goal of the facility is to increase the speed of RT-PCR testing and to help the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in conducting the tests.

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Abalos said the facility is also compliant with the specific requirements mandated by the Department of Health (DOH) in the creation of molecular laboratories and similar facilities.

The city government explained that as of now, the laboratory is conducting sample tests for the facility’s accreditation and certification by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) and Department of Health (DOH). O

As of Jan. 19, the city has recorded 2,170 active COVID-19 cases, 27,477 recoveries, and 580 deaths.