Medical technologists from the Ilocos region undergo “Training on Proper Handling, Packaging, and Shipment of Infectious Substances and other Biological Materials” conducted by the Department of Health (DOH) in collaboration with the Biorisk Management Office (BMO) of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) from October 2-7, 2023 to prevent the accidental exposure of personnel and spread of infectious pathogens in the community.
THE Department of Health (DOH) in collaboration with the Biorisk Management Office (BMO) of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) conducted the first batch of “Training on Proper Handling, Packaging, and Shipment of Infectious Substances and Biological Materials” to medical technologists of various rural health units of Ilocos Region to prevent the accidental exposure of personnel and spread of infectious pathogens within the workplace and the community.
Undersecretary Nestor F. Santiago, who visited on the first day of the training, encouraged participants to take advantage of opportunities for self-improvement by attending essential training that allows them to see new ways of performing the same task safely and securely.
“This will not only improve your competence, capacity, and performance but it can also benefit the workplace as well. We cannot compromise the quality of specimens or infectious substances being transported because the management of diseases relies on proper diagnosis,” he emphasized.
The training provides medical technologists updates regarding the strict national and international regulations of transporting infectious materials including the proper use of packaging materials, as well as shipping requirements with the objective of reducing damage and leak to the packages preventing accidental exposure to personnel handling the material during its shipment.
DOH-Ilocos Regional Director Paula Paz M. Sydiongco stated that the process of transportation of infectious biological substances from the field to a higher diagnostic facility demands responsibility and accountability. “The Covid-19 outbreak is an eye opener for all us, especially in the health sector, as it made routine health programs inaccessible due to various restrictions which deterred the transport and delivery of suspected specimens safely and appropriately to testing laboratories.”
“And we are still strengthening the diagnostic capability of our health care system, especially in rural areas, that is why we still adhere to the standard operating procedure, which is sending our specimens to a higher, more specialized laboratory facility which is the RITM,” she explained.
A total of 34 medical technologists have undergone the first group of trainees from September 2-4, 2023 and 30 participants completed the second group from September 5-7, 2023.
RITM BMO Chief, Plebeian B. Medina said that health personnel handling specimens and biological materials must know the proper procedures and how to transport them safely, timely, efficiently and legally from the place of collection to the place where it will be analyzed. “This is important para ma-maintain ang quality at security ng mga materials at upang masiguro ang safety ng mga personnel sa transaction. Every guideline must be observed to lessen security risks.”
Medina added that after the training, participants are expected to review and update their health facility’s risk assessment and standards relating to their transport practices and procedures and align them with the existing guidelines in order to ensure safety from potential risk hazards that may arise.
“We need to capacitate our laboratory personnel for them to know their responsibilities as shippers, couriers, and receivers of infectious substances and educate them on the classification process of infectious substances for shipment because of the risk involved during the procedure,” he added.
The “Training on Proper Handling, Packaging, and Shipment of Infectious Substances and Biological Materials” was organized and facilitated by DOH – Ilocos Regional Laboratory Network Unit headed by Mauro A. Marzan.
