ADB-funded COVID testing lab to start operations

MANILA, Philippines — A new laboratory for testing COVID-19 infections in Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital in San Fernando City, Pampanga will start operations today, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said.

The facility, which is supported by a $3-million grant from ADB’s Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund, can conduct 3,000 tests daily, therefore increasing the country’s testing capacity for the coronavirus disease to 7,000 daily.

Testing at the Pandemic Sub-National Reference Laboratory begins this weekend as the laboratory technicians have completed weeks of training on biosafety and specimen collection and testing.

 “This state-of-the-art facility is part of the government’s strategy to increase the number of laboratories across the country and significantly boost its COVID-19 testing capacity to flatten the pandemic curve and save lives,” said ADB vice-president Ahmed Saeed.

 “In addition, ADB is working closely with the Department of Health (DOH) to prepare a $125 million project to supplement this new laboratory and support the government’s response to the pandemic with additional testing kits and medical and personal protection equipment for hospitals nationwide.”

ADB said the laboratory has adequate staff and is fully compliant with all regulatory requirements.

To facilitate testing, the DOH will organize the collection and transportation of samples from health facilities to the laboratory, as well as the transmittal of results to the health facilities.

Most equipment for the laboratory and COVID-19 testing kits arrived in the Philippines in April, including a shipment via the Philippine Air Force on April 22.

Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI) was contacted to supply the equipment and test kits and to provide technical support in setting up the laboratory and training of hospital staff.

ADB said the firm is one of the world’s largest genomics companies serving more than 66 countries.

Philippine pharmaceutical company Unilab Inc. assisted in retrofitting the hospital to meet biosafety standards.

The laboratory, which will service health facilities in Central and Northern Luzon, is expected to continue to operate beyond the COVID-19 pandemic in support of research on other pathogens, genetic diseases, and cancer.

The facility can also be used as a training facility for future laboratory technicians.

Funding extended for the establishment of the laboratory is part of ADB’s overall support to the government’s programmed response for the COVID-19 pandemic.