Negros Occidental gets first COVID-19 testing lab

Negros Occidental now has its first-ever COVID-19 testing lab at the Teresita L Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City.

The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) certified and granted a license to the provincial government-run molecular laboratory on June 1, allowing it to conduct Realtime Polymerase Chain Reaction tests.

Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson inaugurated the lab on Tuesday, stating that it will enable faster testing for Negrenses, particularly returning overseas Filipino workers and stranded individuals.

Previously, residents relied on Western Visayas Medical Center in Iloilo for COVID-19 tests.

The lab is fully operational but will undergo a proficiency week to ensure full capacity.