IPB Hosts Webinar on UPLB COVID-19 Lab

by Sophia Marie Malagday (Allosyndesis)

The Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB) conducted on July 23, 2020 a webinar entitled “The Science Behind How UPLB COVID-19 Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory (UPLB-CMDL) Works” which aimed to tackle the journey and inner workings of the new facility headed by GeneSoc alumna Ma. Genaleen Q. Diaz, PhD (Batch F1).

Dr. Diaz introduced the accreditation process of the UPLB-CMDL. The accreditation started with the formation of the committee for the establishment of the UPLB-CMDL (AO 159) followed by the establishment of the committee for the DOH validation of the immunology lab annex (AO 174). This involved the completion of all documentary requirements, DOH validation, the compliance to all requirements, and the proficiency testing which should provide a 100% result to pass. On June 29, the UPLB-CMDL received its certification and License to Operate. UPLB then inaugurated the facility on July 10, 2020. It immediately received its first samples on July 13 and released its first results on July 14, 2020. 

 

Following this is an audiovisual presentation on the facility, in which Kevin Hung, a laboratory analyst of UPLB-CMDL, featured the essentials of the Biosafety and Biosecurity features, equipment, and protocols. Dr. Diaz further elaborated on the Biosafety and Biosecurity features of the said facility, highlighting that it received a biosafety level 2 plus rating from World Health Organization (WHO).

The facility has twelve doors that separate rooms; each with a specific function which includes donning/doffing, sample receiving, extraction, template addition, reagent preparation, amplification, and the bathroom. The major doors are accessible using RFID, while other doors have a ‘no touch’ system of opening and are self-closing. The rooms have a lower air pressure inside than outside which prevents contaminated air from flowing towards non-contaminated area. The High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter filters out the contaminated air. Dr. Diaz also explained that employees needed to take a shower before leaving the facility to ensure the safety of those around them. 

The UPLB-CMDL also boasts of state-of-the-art equipment including a Biosafety cabinet class IIA2 with UPS, a BioRad CFX 96 amplification system, a biomedical refrigerator and freezer, a laminar flow hood/PCR cabinet among many others. All personnel also wear personal protective equipment (PPE) at all times in the facility.

 

Dr. Diaz also discussed the testing workflow used in the facility. She stated that testing is unidirectional wherein it starts from the ‘clean’ (reagent preparation room) to ‘dirty’ (PCR room). Separate analysts do each stage of the process through a relay and buddy system. The testing starts from the receipt of the sample and then proceeds to the RNA extraction. After preparing reagents, the analyst adds the extracted RNA. Afterwards, they proceed with amplification through Real Time Reverse Transcription PCR. Around 48 to 72 hours upon the receipt of the samples is the determined turnaround time. The UPLB-CMDL’s target test output per day is 120 samples. 

She also reminded everyone that the UPLB-CMDL does not perform swabbing and does not entertain walk-ins. She also stated that the lab forms partnerships with healthcare facilities through a memorandum of agreement and will only accept samples from its partner healthcare facilities.