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

NTRL equips lab staff with proficiency skills in Solid TB culture testing

The RITM National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory (NTRL) Learning and Development Section trained two batches of laboratory personnel on Solid Tuberculosis (TB) Culture at NTRL on May 06-17 and May 20-31, 2019. Participants from the various TB culture laboratories of the National TB Laboratory Network were equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively perform solid TB Culture in continue reading : NTRL equips lab staff with proficiency skills in Solid TB culture testing

NTRL commemorates 17 years of expanding national lab networks to end TB

The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine – National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory (RITM-NTRL) celebrates 17 years of conducting research, training, providing specialized laboratory services, and support to the Department of Health National Tuberculosis Program (DOH-NTP) for the control and elimination of Tuberculosis (TB) in the country. For more than a decade, one of NTRL’s major contributions continue reading : NTRL commemorates 17 years of expanding national lab networks to end TB

NTRL pioneers lab network conference-workshop

Twenty-five (25) tuberculosis (TB) culture laboratories all around the Philippines gathered at the Convectus 2018, a conference-workshop conducted by the National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory (NTRL) in Tagaytay City on November 26-29, 2018. “‘Convectus’ is a Latin word meaning ‘to bring together to a place’,” explained Dr. Ma. Cecilia G. Ama, NTRL department head, in her welcome continue reading : NTRL pioneers lab network conference-workshop