Bacolod City, Negros Occidental—The Doctors’ Hospital Inc. (TDHI), a Mount Grace partner, has announced that it will soon acquire real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-based laboratory set-up within its hospital grounds.

TDHI initiated the project in collaboration with Mount Grace Hospitals Inc. and United Laboratories Inc. (UNILAB) to help expand the country’s RT-PCR-based testing capability in the ongoing battle against Covid-19.

The RT-PCR bio-lab will be located at the parking area of the hospital, which will be housed in a shipping container van with the help from ENDEC Inc., a company engaged in engineering and construction management.

The design has earned the laboratory the distinction of being the first of its kind in the country. Despite its uncommon design, quality and safety have not been compromised. The bio-lab is compliant with the safety standards of a Biosafety Level 2 Laboratory (BSL2).

In addition to its high design and quality standards, the bio-lab is equipped with the same RT-PCR machine being used by the Department of Health-accredited Covid-19 testing facilities.

Soon, the laboratory will be fully operational and will give the medical community and the general public access to readily available RT-PCR tests.