Bulacan to inaugurate its first molecular lab building

CITY OF MALOLOS – After just thirty days of construction to quickly respond to the pandemic, Bulacan Governor Daniel R. Fernando led the inaugural and blessing of the Bulacan Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory Building located at the Bulacan Medical Center Compound here today.

“The molecular lab facility is expected to expand the testing capacity of the province as well as to acquire fast and accurate results. It is an integral part of Bulacan’s recovery and resiliency plan to help usher in a “new normal,” Fernando said.

Fernando and Vice Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado were joined by Dr. Emily V. Paulino, Development Management Officer V of Department of Health-Bulacan, Kenneth Samaco of the World Health Organization, Guiguinto Mayor Ambrosio Cruz, Jr. during the blessing which will be officiated by Fr. Joseph Fidel Roura followed by the ribbon cutting ceremony.

Fernando said that the said facility will help flatten the curve because of its expanded capability to test more specimens and obtain results in just a few hours thus being able to immediately identify and distinguish who are positive and negative patients to avoid possible spreading.

“Naniniwala po tayo na isa sa mga susi upang mapabilis ang paglutas natin at mapigil ang paglobo ng mga pasyenteng may COVID-19 ay ang pagsasagawa ng expanded at targeted testing kung kaya naman sinikap ng inyong lingkod na magkaroon tayo ng sarili nating pasilidad upang hindi na tayo makipagsiksikan sa ibang laboratoryo at maghintay ng matagal upang malaman kung tayo ay positibo o negatibo sa COVID-19,” Fernando said.

He added that like the previously launched and now operating Bulacan Medical Center GeneXpert Laboratory, the new Bulacan Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory can also be used to test gathered specimens for TB, flu, HIV and Hepatitis B and C by using polymerase chain reaction machine (PCR), DNA and RNA that can be quantified and be used to detect the presence of specific viruses or bacteria.

According to Dr. Hjordis Celis, Provincial Health Officer II, the Bulacan Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory can accommodate 96 tests per run in the span of 3 to 4 hours using the PCR.

Before it officially operates, the Bulacan Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory will undergo the competency examination and will perform a proficiency testing on August 3, 2020.###