NTRL conducts Solid TB Culture Training

The Learning and Development Section (LDS) of the National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory (NTRL) conducted the Solid TB Culture Training for six (6) TB culture laboratories of the national TB Laboratory Network from July 17-21 via Zoom for the online didactic lectures and July 24-28 at NTRL for the face-to-face laboratory activities. Culture on solid media continue reading : NTRL conducts Solid TB Culture Training

NTRL conducts preceptorship of sputum smear microscopy trainers for CHDs

The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), through its National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory (NTRL) Learning and Development Section (LDS), conducted a series of five-day preceptorships to certify regional trainers who have recently completed the course on Training of Trainers on TB Smear Microscopy (SM-TOT). Preceptorships are activities conducted by NTRL to assess the competency of continue reading : NTRL conducts preceptorship of sputum smear microscopy trainers for CHDs

NTRL brings back Convectus; launches Compendium of Standard Requirements for TB labs      

The National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory (NTRL) of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) convened the Tuberculosis (TB) Culture Laboratory Network together with their Regional TB Laboratory Coordinators through the third Convectus last June 20-23, 2023 at Midas Hotel, Pasay City. This marked the return of the annual Convectus from its hiatus since 2020 because continue reading : NTRL brings back Convectus; launches Compendium of Standard Requirements for TB labs      

NTRL pilots Training of Trainers on Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra

The National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory (NTRL), through its Learning and Development Section (LDS), of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) piloted the Training of Trainers on Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra (GX-TOT) in Western Visayas from June 05-09, 2023. In collaboration with the Department of Health (DOH) Western Visayas Center for Health Development (CHD), NTRL-LDS capacitated continue reading : NTRL pilots Training of Trainers on Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra

EU visits RITM for CBRN Project 81

The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) was recently visited by the European Union (EU) Chemical, Biological, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Centers of Excellence Regional Secretariat for Southeast Asia (RS-SEA) last March 22, 2023 as part of Project 81 – a Priority Identification Mission (PIM) under its Biosecurity Program, held to identify priorities of continue reading : EU visits RITM for CBRN Project 81

NTRL expands capacity for Xpert MTB/XDR testing

The National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory (NTRL), through its Learning and Development Section (LDS), capacitated 37 laboratory personnel from 15 identified facilities to perform Xpert MTB/XDR testing in their respective Rapid TB Diagnostic Laboratory (RTDL) last March 14-15, 2023 via Zoom. The Training on Xpert MTB/XDR utilized a distant learning approach composed of two half-day didactics continue reading : NTRL expands capacity for Xpert MTB/XDR testing

NTRL resumes TB lab assessment activities, completes pilot online approach

As part of the quality assurance services provided by the country’s tuberculosis (TB) culture laboratory network, the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine through its National TB Reference Laboratory (NTRL) resumed its TB laboratory assessment activities, two (2) years after the COVID-19 pandemic hampered operations. NTRL has conducted an individual assessment of 20 laboratories nationwide in continue reading : NTRL resumes TB lab assessment activities, completes pilot online approach

NTRL, BD equip TB staff on Liquid Culture and DST using MGIT

The National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory (NTRL) Learning and Development Section (LDS), in collaboration with Becton Dickinson (BD), capacitated staff from the TB Laboratory Network on liquid culture and Drug Susceptibility Testing (DST) using Mycobacteria Growth Indicator Tube (MGIT) 960 last October 17 to 21, 2022 at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM). TB Laboratory continue reading : NTRL, BD equip TB staff on Liquid Culture and DST using MGIT

Strengthening Surveillance of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (TB)

The 2018 Philippine Tuberculosis (TB) Drug Resistance Survey is the latest among a series of periodic nationwide surveillance activities spearheaded by the National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory (NTRL). These surveys aim to measure the prevalence of drug-resistance in bacteriologically confirmed cases. The previous survey in 2021 found that the prevalence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) was at continue reading : Strengthening Surveillance of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (TB)

RITM-NTRL shares results of three-year study on TB diagnostics

The National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory (NTRL) of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), together with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Eiken Chemical Co., Ltd, presented the results of the TB-LAMP Project to its stakeholders on October 25, 2019 at Diamond Hotel, Manila.  The TB-LAMP or Loop Mediated Isothermal Application is a rapid and robust test for continue reading : RITM-NTRL shares results of three-year study on TB diagnostics