GUIDE: Licensed COVID-19 Testing Laboratories in Metro Manila

Not everybody needs to get tested for COVID-19, but if you do, it might be a little difficult to find the right place get your tests done in Metro Manila. Before you get tested, though, make sure that you are eligible for testing, and that you take your tests at a licensed laboratory.

According to a DOH release published June 11, the guidelines on expanded risk-based testing is categorized into subgroups. The 6 subgroups are arranged from greatest to lowest need of testing for individuals considered at-risk and eligible.

● Subgroup A: patients or healthcare workers with severe/critical symptoms, and relevant history of travel or close contact

● Subgroup B: patients or healthcare workers with mild symptoms, with relevant history of travel or close contact and who are considered vulnerable. Vulnerable individuals include the elderly and those with pre-existing medical conditions that predispose them to severe presentation and complications of COVID-19

● Subgroup C: patients or healthcare workers with mild symptoms, and relevant history of travel or close contact

● Subgroup D: patients or healthcare workers with no symptoms but with relevant travel history and close contact

● Subgroup E: frontliners indirectly involved in healthcare provision in the response against COVID 19

● Subgroup F: other vulnerable patients such as those with comorbidities, those who will undergo high-risk, elective surgical procedures, those living in confined spaces, and others

(Read the full guidelines from DOH here.)

There are currently two types of COVID-19 tests in Metro Manila laboratories for patients: rRT PCR (real-time reverse-transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction) and Cartridge-Based PCR. You can learn more about the different tests for COVD-19 in the CDC website.

If you need to get tested in Metro Manila, below is a list of Licensed COVID-19 Testing Laboratories as of June 16, 2020:

1. AFRIMS – Collaborative Molecular Laboratory
   Location: Quezon City
   Type of Testing: rRT PCR
   
2. Asian Hospital and Medical Center
   Location: Muntinlupa / (02) 8771-9000
   Type of Testing: rRT PCR
   
3. Chinese General Hospital
   Location: Manila / (02) 8711-4141
   Type of Testing: rRT PCR
   
4. Detoxicare Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory
   Location: Mandaluyong / (02) 8256-4681
   Type of Testing: rRT PCR
   
5. Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital and Sanitarium (GeneXpert)
   Location: Caloocan / (02) 8294-2571; 8294-2572 ; 8294-2573
   Type of Testing: Cartridge-Based PCR
   
6. Lung Center of the Philippines (LCP)
   Location: Quezon City / 8924-6101
   Type of Testing: rRT PCR
   
7. Lung Center of the Philippines (GeneXpert)
   Location: Quezon City / 8924-6101
   Type of Testing: Cartridge-Based PCR
   
8. Makati Medical Center (HB)
   Location: Makati / (02) 8888-8999
   Type of Testing: rRT PCR
   
9. Marikina Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory
   Location: Marikina
   Type of Testing: rRT PCR
   
10. Philippine Genome Center UP-Diliman (NHB)
    Location: Quezon City / 8981-8500 loc. 4713
    Type of Testing: rRT PCR
    
11. Philippine Red Cross
    Location: Mandaluyong / (02) 8790-2300 loc. 931/932/935
    Type of Testing: rRT PCR
    
12. Philippine Red Cross – Port Area
    Location: Manila / (02) 8527-0861
    Type of Testing: rRT PCR
    
13. Philippine Red Cross Logistics and Multipurpose Center
    Location: Mandaluyong / (02) 8790-2300
    Type of Testing: rRT PCR
    
14. Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Inc. (RITM)
    Location: Muntinlupa / (02) 8807-2631; (02) 8807-2632; (02) 8807-2637)
    Type of Testing: rRT PCR
    
15. San Lazaro Hospital
    Location: Manila / (02) 8732-3778; 8732-3776 ; 8732-3174 ; 8732-3138 ; 8732-3179 ; 8732-3107
    Type of Testing: rRT PCR
    
16. Singapore Diagnostic, Inc.
    Location: Makati / (02) 8845-0655 ; (0917) 566-4137
    Type of Testing: rRT PCR
    
17. St. Luke’s Medical Center – BGC (HB)
    Location: BGC, Taguig / (02) 8789-7700
    Type of Testing: rRT PCR
    
18. St. Luke’s Medical Center – QC
    Location: Quezon City / (02) 8723-0101
    Type of Testing: rRT PCR
    
19. The Medical City – Ortigas
    Location: Pasig / (02) 8988-1000; (02) 8988-7000
    Type of Testing: rRT PCR
    
20. University of the Philippines National Institutes of Health (UP NIH)
    Location: Manila / (02) 8526-4349; 8526-4266
    Type of Testing: rRT PCR
    
21. University of the Philippines UP-PGH-MRL (NHB)
    Location: Manila / (02) 8554-8400 loc. 3232
    Type of Testing: rRT PCR
    
22. National Kidney and Transplant Institute – (HB)
    Location: Quezon City / (02) 8981-0300; 8981-0400
    Type of Testing: rRT PCR
    
23. Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory (PNP Crime Lab.)
    Location: Quezon City / (02) 3414 3334
    Type of Testing: rRT PCR
    
24. Safeguard DNA Diagnostic, Inc.
    Location: Mandaluyong
    Type of Testing: rRT PCR
    
25. Tondo Medical Center (GeneXpert)
    Location: Manila / Tondo Medical Center (GeneXpert)
    Type of Testing: Cartridge-Based PCR
    
26. Tropical Disease Foundation. Inc.
    Location: Makati / 02) 8894-0741; 8894-0743
    Type of Testing: rRT PCR
    
27. Hi-Precision (QC)
    Location: Quezon City / (02) 8741-7777
    Type of Testing: rRT PCR

For a complete list of licensed COVID-19 testing labs in the Philippines, click here.

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