Cebu City continues to flatten the curve against COVID19 with Pooled PCR Testing
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Go Negosyo, BDO Unibank inks MOA with Cebu City to implement pooled PCR testing to combat COVID19
Social distancing, wearing mask and face shield is not enough to contain the pandemic. With the growing number of infections in the country, contact tracing and mass testing are the key solutions to flatten the curve. With Cebu City registering record lows in the rate of infections and doubling time, the City has become a role model on how to flatten the curve in the Philippines.
And to further enhance the momentum against the virus, Cebu City will get help from NGOs to start mass testing with pooled PCR testing.
Go Negosyo Founder Joey Concepcion, along with BDO Unibank and BDO Foundation Chairperson Tessie Sy-Coson, BDO Unibank President Nestor Tan and ARK PCR Chief Private Implementor Cong. Janette Garin, virtually signed a MOA with the city of Cebu led by Mayor Edgardo Labella to roll out Go Negosyo’s pooled PCR testing.
Pooled PCR Testing is the result of ongoing innovations in testing strategies, said Concepcion. The cost of PCR testing remains to be a factor in implementing mass testing. But with Pooled PCR testing, this method reduces cost and makes mass testing for Filipinos a reality.
Once the DOH gives the go-signal, testing can be piloted late next week. The initial strategy will involve the testing of 4,000 public market vendors. University of Cebu Medical Center and Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center will pilot pooled testing via pools of five while swabbing centers will be set up by DOH 7 and the City of Cebu. Once individuals are confirmed positive, the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas and the city mayor will facilitate their immediate isolation.
According to Concepcion, Massive targeted testing – using all testing strategies at our disposal – and a strategic, granular approach to lockdowns is the best way to combat covid19.
Pooling five individual samples in one test kit will be able to offer 70% savings, speed up turnaround time by 1.08 times, and offer accuracy levels of 98%, although the dilution brings sensitivity rate to 83%. The cost will range from P400-750 per person in the pilot implementation. This represents a significant decrease in cost from a single PCR test, which may cost P4,000 to P8,000.
ARK Project Lead Josephine Romero, BDO Foundation President Mario Deriquito Lucy Co Dy, Treasurer/Trustee of BDO Foundation, Evelyn Salagubang, Trustee of BDO Foundation, Dr. Jaime Bernadas, Director IV of Department of Health – Central Visayas CHD, Felix Taguiam, President of Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, OPAV Assistant Secretary Jonji Gonzales, Stephen Tan, Hospital Administrator of University of Cebu Medical Center, Dr. Gerardo Aquino Jr., Chief of Hospital at Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, and Candice Gotianuy, President of University of Cebu Medical Center were among the attendees of the virtual MOA signing.
