The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) laboratory at the Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital (GCGMH) returns to normal operation today, Wednesday, May 5, 2021, after it was closed for disinfection on Tuesday, May 4, 2021, according to medical center chief Dr. Mutya Kismet Macuno.
In a telephone interview today, Wednesday, Macuno said that the laboratory staff took swab samples around the laboratory’s area, early Wednesday morning, and tested the said samples in the PCR machine. This was being done to ensure that the lab is fully disinfected.
Macuno said once the results from the samples taken from all areas of the laboratory come out around noon today, the laboratory will then start testing samples from patients later in the afternoon.
The medical center chief explained that the control re-agent of the PCR machine was releasing invalid results last Sunday, May 2, 2021. This prompted Macuno to order the temporary closure of the PCR lab for disinfection on Tuesday.
Moreover, Macuno said the PCR machine has a built-in mechanism, which is the control reagent, which assures the accuracy of the results.
Macuno added that she suspects that possibly the transport media from Cebu or residue from the samples may be the reasons the control re-agent kept on releasing invalid results.