The Philippine Red Cross has confirmed that it can now conduct around 12,000 daily tests for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) after its bio-molecular laboratory in Manila has been certified a COVID-19 center.
The laboratory, according to Chairman Richard Gordon, has passed the proficiency test of Research Institute for Tropical Medicine. It is the third laboratory of the organization to be accredited as COVID-19 test centers—with the two projected to conduct around 8,000 tests daily.
“Now we can do more tests because the more people we test, the better chances we have of preventing the further spread of the disease. The focus must be victory over the virus. That’s why we have to test, test and test — to unmask the invisible enemy,” he added.
Gordon said that the Red Cross plans to open four more testing centers in Subic, Clark, Batangas, and Los Baños in the coming weeks.
