Philippines Expands COVID-19 Testing Capacity with New Labs

There are now 26 COVID-19 testing centers in the Philippines after two more facilities received accreditation.

The DOH reported that 149,640 individuals had been tested for the virus as of May 9, with 90% testing negative and 10% positive.

A new laboratory in San Fernando, Pampanga opened on Sunday to help boost the country's testing capacity.

This Huo-Yan Laboratory can test up to 3,000 samples daily and is not part of the current list of accredited facilities.

Pampanga will start mass testing for COVID-19 on Sunday at the Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital (JBLMRH), which has received a license to operate its Molecular and Diagnostic Pathology Laboratory.

The laboratory aims to initially run 500 to 1,000 tests per day with an eventual target of 3,000 daily once it operates 24 hours.

ADB-funded lab in Pampanga will increase the country's testing capacity from about 7,000 a day to nearly 10,000 by Sunday.