(Updated, 3 p.m. July 20, 2020) CEBU CITY, Philippines – Cebu now has six molecular labs accredited to process coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as of July 19, 2020.
The Department of Health’s (DOH) situation report issued on July 19 showed that they recently certified two more molecular laboratories in Central Visayas to do COVID-19 tests that employ real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) techniques.
Both newly accredited COVID-19 testing facilities in the region are found in Mandaue City, Cebu. One is owned and operated by the Philippine Red Cross – Cebu Chapter, and the other is the University of Cebu Medical Center (UCMed).
All certified COVID-19 laboratories for Central Visayas are found in Cebu.
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Aside from the two aforementioned, the other molecular labs are the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC), Cebu TB-Reference Laboratory Molecular Facility for COVID-19 of DOH in Central Visayas, Allegiant Regional Care Hospital, and Prime Care Alpha COVID-19 testing laboratory which is operated by the Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA).
The Philippines now has a total of 89 accredited COVID-19 testing facilities.
DOH and the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine (RITM), the bodies that issue laboratory certifications, are currently processing a total of 180 pending applications. /bmjo