Office: of The Secretary

of the Philippines
Republic
Department of Health
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
__
February 11, 2020
DEPARTMENT CIRCULAR
No. 2020 - 0064
TO: ALL UNDERSECRETARIES AND ASSISTANT SECRETARIES;

DIRECTORS OF BUREAUS AND CENTERS FOR HEALTH
DEVELOPMENT; MINISTER OF HEALTH BANGSAMORO —-
AUTONOMOUS REGION _IN MUSLIM MINDANAO;

EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS OF SPECIALTY HOSPITALS AND
NATIONAL NUTRITION COUNCIL; CHIEFS OF MEDICAL
CENTERS, HOSPITALS, SANITARIA_AND_ INSTITUTES;
PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINE HEALTH INSURANCE
CORPORATION; DIRECTORS OF PHILIPPINE NATIONAL
AIDS COUNCIL AND TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION
ENT AND ALL OTHE ERNED
SUBJECT: Public Advisory No. 11 Reminders for Sending Specimens

_- the to
Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) for Coronavirus
Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Testing (as of February 11, 2020)
This advisory is issued to inform the Directors of Centers for Health Development,
Minister of Health of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Special
and Specialty Hospital Directors, Chiefs of Medical Centers, Hospitals and Sanitaria, and
other concerned of the following reminders on sending specimens to RITM for COVID-19
Testing:
1. All Patients Under Investigation (PUIs) should be tested for COVID-19. Hospitals
should refrain from sending specimens for testing asymptomatic individuals with no
history of travel to China nor history of exposure, for clearance purposes.
It is the responsibility of hospitals and other Disease Reporting Units (DRUs) to

report and inform the appropriate Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit
(RESU) of
PUIs and specimens being referred to RITM for testing.
Hospitals, DRUs, and RESUs should be familiar with biosafety guidelines and the
guidelines on specimen collection and transport prior to sending specimens.
a. The appropriate specimen types include Nasopharyngeal/Oropharyngeal
Swab (NPS/OPS) in
Universal Transport Medium/Viral Transport Medium
(OTM/VTM) transported at 4°C. Do not use Amies or other bacterial
transport medium.
The appropriate swab is dacron or rayon. Do not use wooden or cotton
Sputum and/or endotracheal aspirate or bronchoalveolar lavage may also be

submitted for patients with more severe respiratory disease.
Ensure that the specimen container is tightly sealed, labeled properly with
the name, age, sex, date and time of specimen collection.
It is the responsibility of the referring facility or DRU to complete the required

information per specimen to ensure that each specimen can be identified.
Accompanying documentation include the CIF and specimen line list.
Building 1, San Lazaro Compound, Rizal Avenue, Sta. Cruz, 1003 Manila » Trunk Line 651-7800 local 1108, 1111, 1112, 1113
Direct Line: 711-9502; 711-9503 Fax: 743-1829 @ URL: http://www.dob.gov.ph; e-mail: [email protected]
a. All referrals for 2019-nCoV testing should include a completely filled_up
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Case Investigation Form (CIF) per
patient specimen.
b. In addition, all DRUs are to accomplish a complete line list of specimens
referred to the Institute (Annex 1). This is undertaken to improve specimen
tracking and minimize delays in the disposition and release of results due to missing
vital laboratory information.
c. The name of the contact person for the said facility including complete official
contact details (name of health facility, office land line/mobile phone number,
and e-mail address) should be indicated in the CIFs and Linelist.
d. The documents (CIFs and Linelist) shall be placed in a water-resistant plastic
resealable bag (e.g., Ziplock) which is secured outside the specimen container.
. It is the responsibility of the referring facility or DRU to coordinate with the courier to
ensure prompt delivery of specimens to RITM.
. RITM runs specimens at 10 AM and 4 PM, hence samples should be received at RITM at
9 AM or 2 PM.
. RITM sends electronic copies of the official results simultaneously to the hospital
Infection Control Nurse, Epidemiology Bureau, and RESU.
. For specimen coordination inquiries, contact RITM Surveillance and Response Unit at
(0947)8706673 or (0915)3755953.
For your information and guidance.
. DUQUE II, MD, MSc

Se¢fetary of Health
ANNEX 1 — LINELIST FORM FOR SPECIMEN REFERRAL TO RITM 2019-NCOV TESTING
LINELIST OF SPECIMENS REFERRED FOR 2019 NCOV TESTING

Disease Reporting Unit Date of Specimen Shipment:
(Hospital/agency): (mm-dd-yyyy)
Time of Specimen Shipment:
gh
Referring Physician:.
(hh:mm)
Contact Person: Courier:
Mobile
Telephone Number: Number:
Official E-mail address:
Name of Patient Date of Birth Age Sex Date of Specimen Time of Specimen Remarks
No. (Surname, First Name, Middle Name) (mm/dd/yyyy) (years-months) (M/F) Collection
(mm/dd/yyyy)
Collection
(hh:mm) AM/PM
if 1
(Indicate
or 2™ Sample)
1
10
Prepared by: Date:

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Office: of The Secretary

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of the Philippines

TO: ALL UNDERSECRETARIES AND ASSISTANT SECRETARIES;

AUTONOMOUS REGION _IN MUSLIM MINDANAO;

SUBJECT: Public Advisory No. 11 Reminders for Sending Specimens

It is the responsibility of hospitals and other Disease Reporting Units (DRUs) to

Sputum and/or endotracheal aspirate or bronchoalveolar lavage may also be

It is the responsibility of the referring facility or DRU to complete the required

For your information and guidance.

. DUQUE II, MD, MSc

LINELIST OF SPECIMENS REFERRED FOR 2019 NCOV TESTING

Prepared by: Date:

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