We
have always been the source of workers in the different parts of the world, name
the profession most likely the chances of a Filipino working in that field in
another country is high.
Amidst
the global pandemic of the novel coronavirus 2019, the Philippines more than
ever needs its professionals and scientists because with the global impact of
the disease other countries cannot readily spare what they have since their plate
is also full.
Thank
God for Dr. Raul Destura and his team of UP scientists,
 |
| Philippines own testing kit for the Covid-19 and its project head Dr. Raul Destura (photo credit to owner) |
In
article published in the ABS-CBN news website, microbiology and biotechnology Dr.
Destura knew as soon as the Covid-19 news broke, they will be confronted with a
tough but important mission for the country.
There
is a need for a Covid-19 testing kit, as the country has a limited number in
its stock, and that unverified reports are coming in that other countries can
no longer provide theirs as they are also needing it for their own use.
“He
already knew that this day will happen,” UP Manila Chancellor Dr. Carmencita
Padilla reveals at the media briefing on UP’s reponse to COVID-19 held at the
Philippine Genome Center in UP Diliman. As early as February, Padilla was
taking note of the rising number of COVID-19 cases around the world. “So when
UP was summoned at the Senate and was asked what the UP-Philippine General
Hospital (UP-PGH) and UP Manila-National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH) can do,
our executive director Dr. Eva Maria C. Cutiongco-dela Paz and our scientist
Dr. Raul Destura already informed the Senate that we shall ready the testing
kit.”
As
the Deputy Executive Director of the Philippine Genome Center, Destura likens
himself to being the conductor of a symphony. “Kailangan meron kang idea, meron
kang experimental design. Bawat proseso, may team of scientists. This is the
part you will do, this is the part he will do. And then we convene—umaga
tanghali, gabi, madaling-araw—kasi we lack time!” he says.
Like any scientific study, Dr. Destura says the whole process of
developing the kit was very tedious. One simple test clearly was not enough;
they had to keep repeating every step of the way, 40 to 60 times, to prove the
technology’s sensitivity and specificity. Dr. Destura’s role to the team is to
validate their findings, challenge the results, and “give solutions when
they’re hitting a wall.”
In the process of developing the kit, putting the acid together
was the biggest challenge. “Yung nanduon na lahat ng components. Titimplahin mo
kasi lahat ng conditions isa-isa. Aside from that, gagawan mo ngayon ng
perturbations yung mga conditions mo. Maapektuhan ba sya pag tumaas ito?
Maaapektuhan ba sya pag binawasan mo nito? Lahat yun kailangan mong gawin.
Nakakaubos sya ng buhok,” says the doctor, eliciting some laughter from the
audience. In the media briefing, Dr. Destura seems to be a mild mannered man,
has a cheerful disposition, is well-loved by those around him, and yes, there’s
not very much hair on that head anymore.
Filipino Technology
During
a media briefing, Dr. Destura presented the result of his and his team’s hard
work: the GenAmplify COVID-19 rRT-PCR Detection Kit, which will help in the
early detection and effective treatment of COVID-19.
The
testing can be done in two (2) ways—via nasopharyngeal brush and throat swab,
wherein samples are taken from inside the nose and from the back of the throat.
The specimen is placed in a sealed container and sent to the laboratory where
it will be examined by the medical technologist.
Dr.
Destura explains that like the existing COVID-19 kits, the GenAmplify COVID-19
rRT-PCR Detection Kit uses the same PCR (polymerase chain reaction) technology.
But unlike the others that require the test to be done thrice (for a total of
about six hours), this version employs a single step multiple detection system,
which has a turnaround time of 1 to 2 hours. “Pag tech developer ka, iisipin mo
ang sitwasyon ng lugar na mag-aadopt ng tech—kulang sa tao, kapos sa oras,”
says the doctor, describing our local healthcare system under the challenge of
the COVID-19 outbreak. “Yung ibang platform, kailangan mong gawin yung test ng
tatlong beses. Ito, ginawa nating isang beses.”
Dr.
Destura made the testing kit with the Filipino in mind, because comparatively it
is more cheaper than the imported ones, it will cost only around P1,320 per
test, in contrast to the imported foreign
kit which costs around P8,500 per test.
Around
200 GenAmplify kits can be produced in a week, and enough kits are in stock now
for around 6,000 tests, with more orders for around 20,000 tests already
expected.
Field Testing
The
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has already gave the green light for its
field testing, the reason why Destura and his group are asking for more
patience.
“Hindi
puwedeng bara-bara, hindi pwedeng shortcut. Our intention is to protect the public
by developing technology. Ano ba ang mga criteria na kailangang sundin? Una,
sensitivity at specificity—lahat yan kailangan paulit-ulit mong gagawin,” he
stresses.
The
field validation testing for the kit, which will be done on selected centers
representing Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Destura says it will probably take
about 2 to 3 weeks to complete the needed sample size to calculate the
diagnostic clinical sensibility. “Ito na yung final phase para maging
commercialized version na sya,” he says.
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Report from ABS-CBN News
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