Wednesday, April 29, 2020
BY CARLA P. GOMEZ

Former Rep. Alfredo Benitez is asking Health Regional Director Marlyn Convocar to act on the delay in the release of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) test results from the Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) bio laboratory in Iloilo.

     Benitez, Negros Occidental consultant on economic affairs, in a letter sent to Convocar Monday, said during the first week of April, the turnaround time for the release of results was three days. At present, it takes one week, with no definite release date indicated or advised, he said.

     There is no first-in, first-out method on the inventory or processing of the specimens sent, he said. There is still a specimen received by the WVMC dated March 28 with no result, he pointed out.

     There are also days when no results are released despite the pending number of specimens in the laboratory, Benitez added.

     Because of the delays in the release of information, admitted patients who turned out negative have an extended stay in the hospital, thereby exposing them to other hospital-acquired illnesses, he added.

     Those on home quarantine, who test positive, have freely interacted within the community thinking that the lapse of the 14-day mandatory quarantine is enough and that it is tantamount to a clean bill of health, Benitez said.

     This makes contact tracing even more difficult, he added.

     Benitez said they strongly encourage WVMC to be transparent and fully disclose when the results will be released.

     “While we understand that stringent processes have to be followed, it is more imperative for us to be apprised of the real and actual waiting time as it will affect our policies in the communities,” Benitez said.

     To date, more than 2,000 Negrenses have registered for repatriation and it is in the province’s protocol that all returning residents should be subjected to Rapid Antibody-Based Tests and  Real Time–Polymerase Chain Reaction Tests, he said.

     This is over and above the possible increase in suspected cases as Bacolod City has another positive case, he said.

     “We don’t want a surge, but we need to be ready and responsive should it happen,” Benitez said.*