PRC: RITM found no evidence of contamination in 48 Subic lab COVID-19 tests

The Philippine Red Cross on Monday said the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine found no evidence of contamination in the 48 COVID-19 tests processed at the PRC's Subic laboratory.

In a statement, the PRC explained that the RITM completed its investigation which revealed that the 48 cases tested were found to be valid and reliable.

Last month, the RITM said it was looking into an incident in Subic where some hospital personnel tested positive for the virus, but a retest three days later had negative results.

Forty-nine health personnel initially tested positive for COVID-19 on September 3, based on the test conducted by a laboratory of the PRC, according to Deputy Speaker and SAGIP party-list Representative Rodante Marcoleta.

However, after having a second test in a different laboratory, 44 of them tested negative.

Soon after, the PRC issued a statement, saying that the test methodology and procedures were standardized in all its laboratories which were given a 100% rating when subjected to RITM proficiency tests.

The PRC also disclosed that it immediately conducted test re-runs at its own cost due to the unusually high positive results, but the output remained the same.

The PRC further stated that the timing of tests done relative to exposure was a factor that could produce different results, thus, re-tests done in a different laboratory from samples taken three days after the first test could "very well produce negative results since the clients could already be negative by the time the second samples were taken."

"The PRC has found itself a victim of unsubstantiated allegations in recent months. This is due to damning evidence against involved parties in the awarding of more than P8.7 billion in contracts for overpriced medical supplies to an undercapitalized company under the Bayanihan to Heal Act," it said.

"Senator Richard Gordon has been leading the investigation of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee as its Chairman. Senator Gordon is also the Chairman and CEO of the PRC, under whose watch the humanitarian organization has undergone an intensive modernization program," it added.

Further, the PRC welcomed the findings of the probe conducted by the RITM.

"The PRC is grateful to the RITM for its unbiased investigation into the matter," it said. — DVM, GMA News