Department Order No. 393-E s. 2000

November 14, 2000

DEPARTMENT ORDER

No. 393–E series 2000

DESIGNATION OF NATIONAL REFERENCE LABORATORIES AND TRANSFER OF CORRESPONDING EQUIPMENT, INSTRUMENTS, SUPPLIES, SPECIMENS, RECORDS FORM THE BUREAU OF RESEARCH AND LABORATORIES TO THE DESIGNATED NATIONAL REFERENCE LABORATORIES

As part of the Department of Health’s goal of streamlining the Central Office in line with devolution and decentralization of functions to improve the quality of health services and establish an effective public health laboratory network in the country, the following institutions, in addition to their regular responsibilities, are hereby designated as National Reference Laboratories (NRLs) effective November 1, 2000.

1. Research Institute for Tropical Medicine

National Reference Laboratory for Dengue, Influenza, Tuberculosis and other Mycobacteria, Malaria and other parasites, Bacterial enteric diseases, measles and other viral exanthems, Mycology, Enteroviruses, Antimicrobial resistance and Emerging Diseases; NRL for confirmatory testing of blood donors and blood units.

2. San Lazaro Hospital

National Reference Laboratory for HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Diseases

3. East Avenue Medical Center

National Reference Laboratory or Environmental and Occupational Health; Toxicology and Micronutrient Assay.

4. National Kidney and Transplant Institute

National Reference Laboratory for Hematology including immunohematology (consistent with previously issued D.O. 301–I series 1999)

5. Lung Center of the Philippines

National Reference Laboratory for Anatomic Pathology and Biochemistry

The above institutions should develop their capabilities to fulfill the following functions as National Reference Laboratories:

a. To provide laboratory referral services, e.g. for confirmatory testing, surveillance, research.

b. To train laboratory personnel.

c. To maintain a quality assurance program for laboratory tests – in coordination with the Bureau of Health Facilities and Services, DOH

d. To evaluate test kits and reagents – in coordination with the Bureau of Food and Drugs and the Bureau of Health Devices and Technology, DOH.

The Bureau of Research and Laboratories (BRL) is hereby ordered to endorse all equipment, instruments/devices, supplies, specimens and relevant records of its various laboratories to the corresponding designated National Reference Laboratories.

Transfer of all laboratory functions of BRL to the designated NRLs should be completed on or before December 31, 2000.

ALBERTO G. ROMUALDEZ, JR., M.D.

Secretary of Health