By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The molecular laboratory of the Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital (TLJPH) has processed over 57,000 Covid-19 tests since its establishment last June.

In an online podcast interview hosted by Negros Occidental Board Member Ryan Gamboa, Dr. Mary Ann Maestral, chief of clinics for the TLJPH, said on their 106th day of operation, the laboratory has processed 50,000 tests.

Maestral said the TLJPH laboratory no longer has backlogs and they are able to process 1,300 tests in one day.

“It was an impossible dream for us to have a laboratory. It’s good that many have helped us. We started very humble,” Maestral said.

She also revealed that through the help of the provincial government under Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, and Negros Occidental 3rd district Congressman Francisco Benitez, the laboratory now has three PCR machines, along with several other equipment which helped increased their processing capacity.

“For two weeks that we are operating 24 hours, our optimum capacity is 1,300 tests everyday,” she pointed out. “[If] we cannot get the 1,300 specimens, we will process whatever arrives.”/DGB, WDJ