Iloilo City’s newly-opened molecular laboratory in Molo district passed the proficiency test administered by the Department of Health-Research Institute for Tropical Medicine.

Based on Proficiency Test Result, the Uswag Iloilo City Molecular Laboratory got a final and perfect score of 100 percent.

The test procedures performed include Nucleic Acid Extraction, PCR Mastermix Preparation, Real Time RT-PCR, Interpretation of RT-PCR results, and RT-PCR results reporting.

With this, the facility can finally be issued a license to operate as a testing laboratory.

Relative to this, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas released Executive Order No. 184 establishing the molecular laboratory. This, among others, will ensure a fast turn-around time of results.

As early as Nov. 16, the molecular laboratory has started processing specimens for COVID-19 testing.

Uswag Molecular Laboratory supervisor Chiqui Blancaflor said, however, that pending the arrival of the license to operate, they could not release the official results of the specimen tested.

Treñas said the facility can initially test almost 400 specimens a day, and can release the results after one or two days.

The mayor believes that through this project, the city could be able to strengthen its COVID-19 prevention./WDJ