The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) has optimized its real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for the possible surge in monkeypox cases in the country, alongside its COVID-19 pandemic response.
“The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine has successfully optimized its Realtime PCR assay for detecting Monkeypox Virus as part of the national preparedness and response to the threat of this disease,” said RITM Director IV Celia Carlos in a statement.
“The RITM technical team is currently optimizing a second PCR assay for differentiating the Monkeypox Virus clade,” Carlos added.
RITM earlier announced that it will serve as the primary testing and isolation facility for suspect, probable, and confirmed cases of monkeypox while its Surveillance and Response Unit (SRU) will be receiving samples and referring cases to RITM and other agencies.
According to the WHO, monkeypox is a disease with symptoms that are similar, but less severe, to smallpox. The suspected cases are those who have an unexplained acute rash and are experiencing one or more of the following symptoms: headache, high fever, myalgia, back pain, physical weakness, and swollen lymph nodes.
So far, there is no detected case yet of monkeypox in the Philippines.
