PRC helps RITM with supplies; LabX aids in COVID testing, info drive

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) is sending consumable supplies to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) to ensure that COVID-19 testing at the health research facility would continue without interruption.

"The more people are tested quickly, the sooner we would be able to ensure victory over COVID-19. If we unmask the virus hiding inside the people who are infected, we would be able to isolate them and cure them, thus, preventing the further spread of the virus. So we can't have the RITM's operations hampered due to the lack of the necessary NATCH CS items," said PRC chairman and CEO Richard Gordon.

Gordon ordered the delivery to the RITM following a request for help from National Task Force Against COVID-19 Deputy Chief Implementer Vince Dizon.

Dizon said the RITM came close to losing a few days' testing time this week because the delivery of needed supplies for testing was hampered by the lack of available flights in China.

The PRC provided the following items: 5 mL Sterile tube (336 pieces); 96 Deep well plates (168 pieces); 1000 ul tips (336 racks); and 0.2mL 8-tube PCR strips with flat optical cap (336 bags).

Dizon said the items will be replaced upon receipt of the delivery from China. 

The Philippine Red Cross previously assisted RITM in April when the health research facility had to trim down operations after some of its staff contracted the disease. 

Meanwhile, medical firm LabX has set up a free medical consultation hotline. The public may contact 0917-7-CELLEX or 09177235539 for medical advice on COVID-19 and to request for rapid test supplies. 

LabX Corp. also distributes Cellex, the only rapid test kit in the country so far approved by both the United States and Philippine FDAs (Food and Drug Administration). Cellex boasts an accuracy of 93.8 percent and a sensitivity of 96 percent.

“As we enhance our efforts to provide mass testing, we wanted to reassure the public that we can help them to be always safe by getting tested through our US and PH-approved rapid test kits,” LabX Asia chairman and CEO Hector Thomas Navasero said.