The University of the Philippines National Institute of Health (UP NIH) developed an effective test kit to detect cases of Novel Coronavirus.
Coronavirus Test Kit from UP NIH
Last Tuesday, the University of the Philippines National Institute of Health (UP NIH) announced the completion of its project of developing a test kit to detect cases of the deadly Novel Coronavirus.
According to Raul Destura, the lead scientist for the test kit project:
Two weeks ago, the genome sequence of the virus was made available. We immediately put on a team to develop something that will help the country detect the existence of this deadly virus.
During a Senate inquiry, Destura confirmed the availability of the test kits by next week that will still undergo validation from the Department of Health (DOH) before releasing it for public use.
Hopefully, next week, DOH can get their hands on the test kits and have it verified and validated before releasing it nationwide.
According to the Department of Health, the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) has already shown interest in ordering test kits from the UP NIH as soon as it is available for public usage.
WHO urges rapid testing for Coronavirus cases
The usual process in detecting cases of Novel Coronavirus involves screening patients by the RITM for symptoms of infection. Then the DOH sends the samples to Australia for the final confirmation.
If the test kits are validated by DOH to be effective, it will allow the agency a faster detection of the Novel Coronavirus under investigation.
World Health Organization representative to the Philippines, Rabindra Abeyasinghe assured the government that up until the test kits are not yet available, the WHO will continue to provide the test kits for the Philippines and other affected countries.
Currently, there are more than 20,000 people diagnosed with the deadly Novel Coronavirus leaving 427 dead on the process. In the Philippines, there are two confirmed cases with one death toll recently recorded.
