Molecular Diagnostic Program (December 2013)

Current molecular testing for the diagnosis of infectious diseases in the country are very costly since virtually almost all of these kits are imported all over the globe. Locally developed and produced nucleic acid-based assays for the diagnosis of life threatening diseases may allow access to this technology even among indigent patients. As an initial project, BIOTECH-MANILA has delved into designing rapid diagnostic tests combining the expertise of the research staff with the latest facilities and equipment available in the country.

These include diagnosis for typhoid fever from spiked specimens using standard PCR methods, profiling of antibiotic resistance in multiple drug resistant tuberculosis strains in the Philippines and Dengue detection and simultaneous serotyping using conventional heminested PCR, multiplex RT-PCR and Real Time RT-PCR (multiplex Taqman and SYBR Green I). The end goal, upon optimization and completion of these tests is to provide Juan de la Crus with his rightful privilege of advanced healthcare without hurting his pockets.