BATAC CITY, Aug. 25 (PIA) - After releasing a public statement last August 6 on the slight delay on releasing of swab test results, the state-run Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center (MMMH&MC) announces that testing and releasing of swab results is now back on target at its turn around time of 48 to 72 hours.
As the hospital caters also to neighboring provinces, the MMMH&MC said they were able to implement several corrective measures to catch-up with the backlogs.
“Since August 10, we were able to overcome all our backlogs and we are back on track with the 48 to 72 hours’ turn around time for our RT-PCR (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) testing which is the gold standard in diagnostic confirmation for people who might have contracted coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19),” Dr. Modesty Leaño, head of MMMH&MC’s Department of Pathology and Laboratories, said.
When the swab testing went beyond its average turn around time, Leaño sought the understanding and cooperation of the public, especially for those who experienced the delay in the release of results.
“Testing for the disease is more complex and the matter of reporting continues to evolve in light of the increasing number of cases,” she explained.
Moreover, Leaño added that the Provincial Health Office and the Department of Health (DOH) are now responsible in releasing the swab results to municipalities and individuals.
“The Provincial Health Office and Provincial Department of Health are now responsible in releasing the results to respective individuals and municipalities and we also ironed out the process of receiving samples from them,” Leaño, who is a pathologist, stated.
As a possible second wave of the disease is anticipated, the hospital, being the only tertiary hospital in Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur, has been doubling its efforts to streamline the processes and come up with plans to become more prepared when it occurs.
“We know that this disease will keep coming out and that guidelines will be changed and developed and I hope, with MMMH&MC as the sole tertiary hospital in Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur, that we will be able to design a quick response mechanism base on scientific protocols,” Dr. Maria Lourdes Otayza, MMMH&MC’s Medical Center Chief II, remarked.
As of August 23, the province of Ilocos Norte has four active COVID-19 cases, 33 recoveries, and 37 overall confirmed COVID-19 cases. (JCR/AMB/MJTAB/PIA Ilocos Norte with reports from John Michael Mugas-MMMHMC)
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
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