Webinar #79 | “COVID-19 Testing: May Nagbago Ba?”
The University of the Philippines
in partnership with UP Manila NIH National Telehealth Center
and in cooperation with UP Philippine General Hospital
would like to invite you to join the Fight Against COVID-19!
Webinar #79 “COVID-19 Testing: May Nagbago Ba?”
November 19, 2021 (Friday) 12nn
Presenter:
Dr. Raul V. Destura
Professor, UP College of Medicine
Director, National Training Center for Biosafety and Biosecurity
University of the Philippines Manila National Institutes of Health
Reactors:
Dr. Christie Monina M. Nalupta
Director, National Blood Services
Philippine Red Cross
Jessie Diatre
General Manager
The Lord’s Grace Medical Industrial Clinic Company
Dr. Jonathan Rivera
Pathologist, Department of Laboratories
Philippine General Hospital
Opening Remarks:
Dr. Nelson Geraldino
Chair, Department of Laboratories
Philippine General Hospital
Closing Remarks:
Dr. Stella Marie L. Jose
Deputy Director, Health Operations
Philippine General Hospital
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Webinar #79 “COVID-19 Testing: May Nagbago Ba?”
Special Topic
Testing always plays an important role in any pandemic. With COVID-19, prior to the vaccination – we had to rely on testing to provide us with some information that would prevent the spread of the virus. If someone had symptoms and tested positive, then isolation was needed. If someone was exposed, then a test at the right time would tell if the exposure resulted in infection. Admittedly, this was insufficient but without a vaccine, this was the only source of information to guide a more targeted response.
With the vaccine, the equation has changed. People in NCR are vaccinated – providing some protection against deadly COVID but not an assurance that we are completely protected or not protected. Many who have received Sinovac are having tests done by themselves and would like to receive other vaccines based on antibody titers. In the absence of clear guidance on how to use and interpret tests – we will continue to see irrational use of testing and unnecessary expense- as well as anguish and suffering- from testing when not needed, and failing to test when needed.
Since the start of the pandemic, more efficient tests have been developed particularly for antigen tests that are being used widely in other countries: Singapore, USA, UK, Canada – for screening at workplaces, schools and tourist destinations. Aside from this, there are methods for pool-testing using saliva tests. There are just some of the newer developments in testing.
In this episode of COVID-19 we will hear from an outstanding Filipino scientist who developed the first Philippine COVID-19 test, Dr. Raul Destura, who will walk us through the different tests, the science behind these and how we have to know what test to take, what information it will give us, and how we should properly interpret information. Reactors will be Dr. Monina Christie Nalupta, head of the Blood Bank Services of the Philippine Red Cross, who will share her experiences on testing for blood products for antibodies, and Jessie Diatre, General Manager of The Lord’s Grace Medical Industrial Clinic Company to share COVID-19 testing developments and trends from their company’s perspective. Opening Remarks will be by Dr. Stella Marie L. Jose, Deputy Director for Health Operations, Philippine General Hospital.
Join us and understand the latest developments on testing with your on-line credible community.
Stay Safe. Stay Healthy. Stay Connected.
Together, we can STOP COVID DEATHS!
