UP Los Baños retrofits lab for COVID-19 testing

The University of the Philippines Los Baños is converting one of its laboratories into a testing center for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

According to a report posted on the UPLB website, the immunology laboratory of the National Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology is currently underdoing retrofitting work to make it compliant to the requirements.

The lab is a Biosafety Level II laboratory, the classification needed to qualify as a COVID-19 testing center.

"The design and layout of the testing center takes into consideration requirements for biosafety, biosecurity, risk identification, and mitigation strategies," the report read.

READ: UP-developed COVID-19 test kits now being used at NIH

UPLB based the safety standards on the assessment tools used by Department of Health (DOH), Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), and the World Health Organization (WHO).

"The testing center will be equipped with DOH-recommended equipment including RT-PCR machines, biosafety cabinets Class 2A, micropipettes, laminar flow hoods, and autoclave machines," the report added.

CCTV cameras and monitors will also be installed for security purposes.

DOH, RITM, and WHO representatives will inspect the lab once completed for certification.

Manpower is expected to double once the testing center starts round the clock operations on three eight-hour shifts. —MGP, GMA News