Red Cross’ new COVID laboratories capable of testing other infectious diseases, says Gordon

By JOHN CARLO M. CAHINHINAN

Senator Richard Gordon said the new molecular laboratories of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) are now capable of testing other potential infectious diseases amid the global coronavirus pandemic.

Gordon, chairman and CEO of PRC, said that aside from COVID-19 virus, the new Red Cross facilities can test other communicable diseases such as tuberculosis, human immunodeficiency viruses or HIV, dengue, malaria, hepatitis, leptospirosis and Zika.

Gordon stressed that having the capability of testing more kinds of viruses have a great impact on the treatment of patients.

“This is very important because since we have the capability of testing more kinds of illnesses, it means we can diagnose more patients and they will be treated immediately,” he said.

“The primary purpose why we put up molecular laboratories is because we want to help the country respond to COVID-19 by providing facilities where our people can be tested but soon, we will also start testing for other diseases. What is important now is we test more individuals for COVID because this is one vital way of containing and eliminating the virus,” he added.

According to Gordon, the PRC has processed a total of 157,707 specimen samples or 24 percent of the total tests conducted in the country as of June 28.

The Red Cross testing centers are located in its headquarters in Mandaluyong City; Clarkfield, Pampanga; Subic, Zambales and at the Port Area in Manila—the largest molecular laboratory in the country with the capacity of testing 14,000 samples per day.

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)