WVMC assures accurate COVID test results

By Leonard T. Pineda I

The Western Visayas Medical Center Sub-National Laboratory (WVMC-SNL) in Mandurriao, Iloilo City assured the public that it only releases accurate and reliable laboratory test results pertaining to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), contrary to allegations that it issued “false positive” results.

In an advisory issued on June 13, 2020, WVMC-SNL said releasing a “false positive” result is very remote, if not nil.

“The WVMC-SNL has passed and was given proficiency testing certificate last March 31, 2020 by the Department of Health and the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine; thus, the laboratory has complied with all the required standards,” the advisory said.

Based on established written protocols, every procedure of the Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) undergoes stringent verification and validation process.

According to WVMC, a quality management system has been installed and designed to eliminate errors and ensure the identity of specimen being processed.

During testing, WV Patient No. 114 from Igbaras, Iloilo, is the only positive specimen in the plate of 93 specimens, thus, contamination from another specimen was ruled out.

To ensure accuracy, all positive specimens are isolated and would undergo a repeated testing procedure by a different group of medical technologists.

The RT-PCR machine is fully automated; hence, there is no way that the operator can manipulate the results.

“A positive COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) RT-PCR result means SARS CoV-2 RNA is detected in the specimen,” the advisory explained.

(SARS-CoV-2 is the virus that causes COVID-19. It is primarily detected through the presence of its RNA or ribonucleic acid in a specimen extracted from a suspected patient. The RNA plays biological roles in coding, decoding, regulation and expression of genes. It also plays an important role in regulating cellular processes–from cell division, differentiation and growth to cell aging and death.)

The testing cannot determine whether the viral RNA is active or infectious or inactive/dormant/non-infectious.

The completion of the 14-day quarantine period is required to ensure safety of the patient and prompt contact tracing is made to ensure that all contacts are swabbed, quarantined and advised.

The WVMC-SNL is fully aware of its mandate and responsibility to release accurate, reliable, and timely results, since it has a serious impact to the patient, to the community, and to the entire region. (PIA)