ni Lolet Abania | July 14, 2022
Isang test kit na mura, magaang dalhin, at ‘sensitive’ sa pagtukoy ng African Swine Fever (ASF) virus ang na-develop at mabibili na sa bansa.
Ito ay ang GenAmplify ASF PCR Detection Kit, isang molecular-based testing platform na gawa ng GenAmplify Technologies, Inc. (GTI), isang subsidiary ng Manila Healthtek (MTek), ang nangungunang biotech company sa larangan ng diagnostics.
Sa Calabarzon, ang kit ay idini-distribute ng Diamed Enterprise, isang provider ng Life Science and Diagnostics products sa Pilipinas.
Ayon kay Lorenzo Arellano, isang doktor ng Veterinary Medicine ng Diamed, masusi ang naging pananaliksik at testing na isinagawa bago pa inilunsad ito sa bansa.
“The GenAmplify ASF PCR Detection Kit delivers the same quality of performance as international brands. It is user-friendly, and is very convenient since it allows the use of different types of samples,” sabi ni Arellano.
Noong nakaraang taon, ang breakthrough kits ay inaprubahan ng Food and Drug Administration.
Nakakuha rin ito ng seal of validation sa Veterinary Laboratory Division ng Bureau of the Animal Industry (BAI) na sinertipikahang 100% sensitive at 100% specific.
Ginawa ito sa koordinasyon ng iba’t ibang animal diseases diagnostic laboratories bago ang actual roll-out nito sa merkdado.
Ang mismong laboratoryo ng Diamed Enterprise sa Los Baños ay isa sa mga nakilahok sa proseso ng field validation.
“We are open also for other distributors to cover other areas, most especially those areas with reported outbreaks. A wider distribution network will eventually help us further lower the cost of testing to make it more accessible for hog farmers,” pahayag ni Maricar Ocampo, vice president for Sales and Marketing ng GTI.
Maliban sa murang presyo, may kakaibang bentahe rin ito ayon kay Dr. Ernesto Balolong, Jr., director ng Research and Development ng Animal Health Division ng MTek.
“Since the product is locally-developed, the manufacturers can readily provide technical assistance to laboratories should there be problems, versus imported test kits,” saad ni Balolong.