By J. Jala | 02:54 PM October 20, 2020
Operations of the two laboratories in Bohol conducting reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT- PCR) testing for coronavirus disease (Covid-19) were temporarily suspended.
The Governor Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital (GCGMH) RT-PCR lab has started sending its swab samples since Oct. 17 to the Cebu TB Reference Molecular Laboratory for Covid-19 Testing (CTRL) in Cebu City.
In an advisory posted today on their official Facebook page, GCGMH said the negative-pressure ventilation system of the section will soon be undergoing a corrective maintenance procedure.
Dr. Cesar Tomas Lopez, spokesman of the Bohol Inter-Agency Task Force (BIATF), also confirmed that the RT-PCR machine operated by the provincial government has ran out of “reagents”, specifically the detection and extraction kits, which are necessary in evaluating the presence of the SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19.
Lopez said that the supply of reagents is sourced from Manila and the absence of regular flights could delay the resumption of the RT-PCR machines’ operation.
Lopez said they expect the supply of reagents will arrive on Friday.
