By Katrina Gracia Consebido
The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) announced on Monday, June 20, that they are now equipped to detect monkeypox with realtime polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test.
RITM Director Celia Carlos said it is part of the government’s initiative for national preparedness and response to the threat of monkeypox.
“The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine has successfully optimized its realtime PCR assay for detecting Monkeypox Virus as part of the national preparedness and response to the threat of this disease,” Carlos said.
“The RITM technical team is currently optimizing a second PCR assay differentiating the Monkeypox Virus clade,” Carlos added.
Carlos added the Department of Health is organizing clinical approaches to skin lesions, collection handling and transport of samples from skin lesions, to guide all Disease Reporting Units (DRUs) and Epidemiology and Surveillance Units (ESUs).
As of this date, there are no cases of monkeypox detected in the country. – gb
