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

NTRL capacitates 7 trainers on TB Smear Microscopy

The National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory (NTRL), through its Learning and Development Section (LDS) capacitated seven (7) staff from the TB Laboratory Network in its recent Training of Trainers on TB Smear Microscopy (SM-TOT) last October 10-14, 2022 at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM). The participants, who represented the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Bicol continue reading : NTRL capacitates 7 trainers on TB Smear Microscopy

RITM certifies 2 TB Smear Microscopy Trainers from Central Luzon

The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), through its National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory (NTRL) certified two (2) participants from their Training of Trainers on TB Smear Microscopy (SM-TOT) course for the successful completion of their preceptorship last September 26-30, 2022. The two (2) TOT-trained participants from the Department of Health (DOH) Central Luzon Center for continue reading : RITM certifies 2 TB Smear Microscopy Trainers from Central Luzon

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)

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