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All 14 Philippine Red Cross (PRC) molecular laboratories across the country received Certificates of Proficiency for 2022 from the Department of Health-Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (DOH-RITM). The proficiency tests, given annually by RITM to DOH-accredited molecular laboratories, are part of RITM’s quality assessment post-accreditation for the real-time detection of SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes CoVID-19.

All 14 molecular laboratories of the PRC passed the proficiency tests, which consist of Nucleic Acid Extraction, PCR Master Mix Preparation, Real-Time RT-PCR, RT-PCR results interpretation, and RT-PCR results reporting. All 14 PRC laboratories needed only one take to meet the RITM requirements. 

The PRC’s molecular laboratories are located in (1) PRC National Blood Center, Mandaluyong City, (2) PRC Logistics and Multi-purpose Center, Mandaluyong City, (3) Port Area, Manila, (4) Ilagan City, Isabela, (5) Subic, Zambales, (6) Clark, Pampanga, (7) Batangas City, (8) Mandaue City, Cebu, (9) Passi City, Iloilo, (10) Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, (11) Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, (12) Surigao City, Surigao del Norte (13) Cotabato City-Maguindanao area, and (14) Zamboanga City.

The first laboratory started operation in April 2020. Since then, PRC has tested 5,605,651 swab and saliva samples for CoVID-19. “Ang Philippine Red Cross ang kauna-unahang nagkaroon ng automated RT-PCR tests sa Pilipinas. Araw-araw, sinisikap ng aming volunteers at staff na laging maging una, laging handa, at laging nandyan para sa ating mga kababayan sa panahon ng emergency at sakuna,” PRC Chairman and CEO Richard J. Gordon said.

dick gordon looks on as a patient is vaccinated at the PRC Bakuna Bus

Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chairman and CEO Sen. Dick Gordon urged the public to get tested regularly for early detection to prevent transmission and to also get vaccinated or receive booster shots for added protection. Gordon also said that PRC is prepared for any possibility of a surge since there are PRC Molecular Laboratories, Bakuna Centers, Bakuna Buses, Isolation Facilities, and Emergency Field Hospitals available 24/7.

“Tumataas ang kaso ng COVID-19 cases sa ibang bansa, we must be ready for any possible surge. We must prevent it through practicing health and safety protocols, social distancing, sanitizing your hands, getting vaccinated, and being tested regularly for early protection,” Gordon said.

Through PRC’s 14 molecular laboratories, anyone can get tested and avail of the cheapest RT-PCR test in the country priced at only P1,500 for the saliva RT-PCR test and just P2,800 for the swab RT-PCR test. The saliva and swab RT-PCR tests are considered the gold standard for COVID-19 testing.

PRC also continues to deploy its Bakuna Buses to remote areas and has a continuous operations program for their Bakuna Centers to inoculate unvaccinated individuals and provide additional protection through booster shots. To date, PRC has already conducted 5,515,453 tests and administered 1,104,478 doses of Covid-19 vaccines.

PRC has also turned unused classrooms into isolation facilities to accommodate asymptomatic spreaders. There are also PRC emergency field hospitals to serve as extension wards for other hospitals to accommodate any overflow of COVID-19 patients. The initiative of the Red Cross was started last April 2021, to provide assistance to the overwhelmed healthcare system in the country due to the increasing number of COVID-19 positive individuals at that time. Since then, PRC has cared for 5,176 individuals in the isolation facilities and 65,856 individuals in the emergency field hospitals and medical tents.

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Cotabato City-Maguindanao molecular laboratory received its License to Operate from the Department of Health on November 11, 2021, after passing its efficiency test set by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine last October 01, 2021.

PRC, Cotabato City – Maguindanao is the 14th molecular laboratory in the country, which will begin its operation on November 12, 2021. The new molecular laboratory is in partnership with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). It is equipped with two polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machines and one ribonucleic acid (RNA) extractor capable of conducting 2,000 tests a day, which will serve Maguindanao, North Cotabato, South Cotabato, and Davao City.

“Layunin ng Philippine Red Cross na mas marami pa ang ating ma-test upang maiwasan natin ang hawaan ng COVID-19. Sa ngayon ay 200 test per day lamang ang capacity ng Cotabato Regional and Medical Center, at sa pamamagitan ng bagong molecular laboratory ay mas mapapabilis natin at mapapalakas ang COVID-19 response sa mga lugar na nasasakupan nito,” PRC Chairman and CEO Sen. Dick Gordon said.

It is through the leadership of Sem. Dick Gordon to establish the molecular laboratories in strategic areas to make it more accessible for the people who want to get tested for COVID-19. PRC tested a total of 4,870,989 as of November 11, 2021. Of over 281 molecular laboratories in the country, PRC has the biggest output of any organization representing 21% of the national testing output.

PRC also is ramping up vaccination efforts nationwide to get more people vaccinated as soon as possible through the Bakuna centers and PRC bakuna busses, having inoculated over 393,617 individuals.

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Cotabato City-Maguindanao molecular laboratory passed the efficiency test set by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine last October 01, 2021.

PRC, Cotabato City – Maguindanao is the 14th molecular laboratory in the country, capable of processing 2,000 tests per day.  The new molecular laboratory is in partnership with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and will serve Maguindanao, North Cotabato, South Cotabato, and Davao City.

“Naghihintay na lamang tayo ng license to operate mula sa Department of Health upang masimula na ang pag-tetest natin sa mga kababayan natin. Sa ngayon ay 200 test per day lamang ang capacity ng Cotabato Regional and Medical Center at sa pamamagitan ng bagong Molecular Laboratory this will further hasten our COVID-19 response and can test up to 2,000 tests per day,” PRC Chairman and CEO Sen. Dick Gordon said.

PRC tested a total of 4,682,077 as of October 20, 2021. Of over 281 molecular laboratories in the country, PRC has the biggest output of any organization representing 22% of the national testing output.

PRC Molecular Laboratories has an average of 360,000 tests to date compared with only 66,000 for government labs and 40,000 only for private labs because Red Cross molecular laboratories are fully automated, its output is five times more than the regular manual laboratories.

PRC also is ramping up vaccination efforts nationwide to get more people vaccinated as soon as possible through the Bakuna centers and PRC bakuna busses, having inoculated over 331,609 individuals.

Philippine Red Cross

Born officially in 1947, but with roots that traces back to the revolutionary days, the Philippine Red Cross has truly become the premier humanitarian organization in the country, committed to provide quality life-saving services that protect the life and dignity especially of indigent Filipinos in vulnerable situations.

Address: 37 EDSA corner Boni Avenue, Mandaluyong City 1550
Emergency Hotline: 143
Trunkline +63 2 8790 2300
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