38 of 42 labs submit complete line lists, daily accomplishment reports to DOH

The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday said 38 of the 42 certified and operational laboratories nationwide have submitted complete line lists and daily accomplishment reports as of June 1, paving the way for the clearing of case validation backlogs.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the four remaining laboratories are expected to submit their reports by Thursday.

“Kapag dumating na po ang kumpletong line list na ‘to mula sa natitirang apat na laboratoryo, ma-va-validate na po natin lahat ng natitirang kaso at mauubos na po natin ang mga cases for validation,” she said at a virtual press briefing.

“Nangangahulugan na ‘fresh’ cases na lamang po ang aabangan natin kada araw at ito na po ang magiging basehan para sabihin kung nag-i-improve po ba ang sitwasyon natin,” she added.

The DOH earlier explained that a line list “contains all test results conducted since the beginning of the laboratory’s operation.”

Vergeire also noted that the number of laboratories that submitted a daily accomplishment report on June 1 increased significantly from only 15 out of 42 on May 31.

She added that the DOH is working to maintain the high submission rate of laboratories.

New cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are now classified as either “fresh,” meaning the test result was released to the patient within three days from reporting time, or “late,” meaning the test result was released four days ago or longer.

The DOH previously said that its increased capacity to validate cases drove the spike in COVID-19 cases reported daily.

Vergeire also said that the country’s certified laboratories have a cumulative rated or targeted capacity of 34,000 tests daily, but the actual number of tests performed each day is capped at only 8,000 to 9,000 by operational constraints.

The Philippines has logged 18,997 COVID-19 cases with 4,063 recoveries and 966 deaths as of Tuesday afternoon. -MDM, GMA News