The Puerto Princesa City Health Office’s medical technologists undergo training at the City Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory on Interferon Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) utilizing QIAGEN QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus in an effort to improve TB detection and prevention in the city.
IGRA is a blood test used to detect a person’s immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) bacteria. The activity was made possible through the World Health Organization (WHO), Department of Health Mimaropa and RiteMed.
The City Government of Puerto Princesa said that this is a new technology that will help them improve the TB treatment to patients.
“Ang QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus ay isang makabagong diagnostic test na tumutukoy sa latent TB infection—ang uri ng TB na wala pang sintomas ngunit may posibilidad lumala—gayundin sa extrapulmonary TB o TB na kumakalat sa ibang bahagi ng katawan. Sa tulong ng teknolohiyang ito, mas maaga at mas eksakto ang pagtuklas ng TB, na mahalaga para sa maagap na gamutan at mabilis na pagpigil ng pagkalat nito,” the City Government said in a statement.
The City Government said that during the two-day training, the medical technologist familiarizes the whole process from the sample collection to interpretation of results. These new knowledge and skills empower medical technologists with good practices to improve treatment outcomes and program management. It said that in the coming months, this services will be made available in the City Health Office.
Records says that there are more than 1,000 TB cases detected in the city.
“Batay sa datos ng CHO, bagamat hindi kabilang ang TB sa mga pangunahing sanhi ng kamatayan sa lungsod, marami pa rin ang nakukumpirmang kaso nito. Ayon sa pinakahuling datos para sa 2023, umabot sa 1,265 ang na-detect na kaso. Lumalabas na 412 sa bawat 100,000 taga-lungsod na may TB,” the City Government further said.
It said that in order to prevent TB in the community, everyone must get tested if they have symptoms and complete their prescribed treatment. Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent TB disease.
“Ang sakit na TB nagagamot. Sa tamang gamutan, sa suporta ng pamilya, at sa pagtutulungan ng komunidad, possible nating wakasan ang TB. Ang pagsunod sa malusog na pamumuhay, agad na pagpakonsulta sa unang paglabas ng mga sintomas gaya ng matagal na ubo, biglaang pagbaba ng timbang, at labis na pagpapawis sa gabi, ay makakatulong upang maagapan ang paglala ng TB. Agad magpatingin sa pinakamalapit na health facility,” the City Government reminded the public.
