Department of Health

Research Institute for Tropical Medicine

LABORATORY ASSESSMENT APPLICATION PROCESS

Groups are advised to write a letter of intent addressed to OIC Undersecretary Maria
Rosario Singh-Vergiere of the Department of Health (DOH) Health Regulation Team at
doh.covidlab.info@gmail.com.

STEP 1: SELF-ASSESSMENT
Using a tool designed by RITM, the laboratory will conduct a self-assessment to check its
readiness to perform COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing. It includes
considerations for the design and layout of facilities, workflow, the availability of equipment
and trained personnel, logistics and supplies, management systems, and safety controls.

STEP 2: ON-SITE ASSESSMENT

The DOH Assessment Team will review the self-assessment to determine readiness and
provide inputs on which areas of improvement the laboratory should prioritize. An on-site visit
will be arranged to check the laboratory. The DOH Assessment Team will provide the
laboratory with an assessment of gaps, technical and safety recommendations, and a period
with which the recommendations should be complied with.

STEP 3: COMPLIANCE
Given a period to comply with the requirements and recommendations, the laboratory will
submit evidences of their compliance to the DOH Assessment Team for evaluation. Once
these have been found to be satisfactory, the laboratory will be recommended for the next
stage.

STEP 4: PROFICIENCY TESTING

RITM will provide the laboratory with a Proficiency Test (PT) panel consisting of a set of
unknown samples to be tested by its laboratory staff. The results to the PT panel testing will
be submitted to RITM for assessment of the laboratory’s capability to correctly and accurately
test for COVID-19. If a laboratory fails the PT, corrective measures should be undertaken
before being provided with another PT panel. This cycle will continue until the laboratory
passes the proficiency test. When the laboratory successfully passes the PT, it can then
proceed to the next stage.

STEP 5: FULL SCALE IMPLEMENTATION

The DOH Assessment Team will recommend the laboratory to proceed with COVID-19 testing.
The laboratory will then submit the first five (5) positive samples to RITM for confirmation. If
the results are in agreement with RITM’s own testing, the laboratory can commence with
COVID-19 testing independently. It will thereafter continue to participate in RITM’s Proficiency
Testing program to monitor its performance.

COMMUNICATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT OFFICE

2/f RITM Training Center Bldg., 9002 Research Drive, Filinvest Corporate City, Alabang, Muntinlupa 1781
communication.ritmdoh@gmail.com | (02) 8807 2631 loc 426