SAN JOSE, Antique – Gov. Rhodora Cadiao of Antique asked the Department of Health (DOH) to hasten the training of the staff of the province’s first molecular laboratory.
The laboratory would be performing reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction tests (RT-PCR) for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Only after the training of its staff would the laboratory be eligible for DOH accreditation.
The P19-million facility is adjacent to the Angel Salazar Memorial General Hospital. Construction was completed just last month.
“I hope it will be operational soon,” said Cadiao, citing the spike in Antique’s COVID-19 cases.
The laboratory’s staff undergoing training included a pathologist and medical technologists.
“I was informed naka-first (training) module pa lang sila. How many months na ‘yun. They have been waiting for the start of the second module training. May third module pa,” said Cadiao.
“Actually ang aton lab is ready for operation. All we need is the DOH accreditation. I asked the help of Cong. Loren Legarda,” she revealed.
With its own laboratory, Antique need not forward to Iloilo City (Western Visayas Medical Center in Mandurriao district) the specimens collected from Antiqueños for COVID-19 testing. It is designed to process at least 300 specimens a day.
As of Monday, Antique’s COVID-19 cases hit 283 (141 active, 134 recovered and eight deaths)./PN
