Filipino-Invented Rapid Test Kit for Dengue Now in Pilot Implementation

There’s now a faster and more affordable way to detect dengue, and believe it or not, it’s invented by Filipinos.

Biotek-M is a rapid test kit for dengue, and it’s already approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and adopted by the Department of Health (DOH).

The Filipino-invented test kit is also now in the pilot implementation according to scientist and molecular microbiologist Dr. Raul V. Destura, and Western Visayas is one of the three pilot sites. It is also being tested in the Ilocos Region and Zamboanga Peninsula.

“We are the first who developed locally the technology intended to reach the marginalized sector. The purpose of the technology is to become the new standard in terms of cost for diagnostics,” said Destura.

Compared to the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology, which costs between PHP4,000 to PHP7,000 per test, the rapid test kit is 70 to 80 percent cheaper.

It is 100 percent government-funded with 90 percent coming from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and 10 percent from the University of the Philippines.

Long-Term Plan

“Right now, our manufacturing targets are the demand of the Department of Health (DOH),” Destura said.

“The challenge now is not just developing the technology. It’s for our countrymen to trust Filipino scientists developing technology. The adaptation part is a major challenge for our technology developers,” he added.

Destura also added that even though it’s only in the pilot implementation stage, the “super target is for it to reach the barangay implementation”.

“If it reaches there, then I know that my job is complete because that is really our target–the marginalized sector. Hopefully you guys will help me convince agencies to adopt Filipino-based technology to inspire our scientists to keep on working,” he explained.

“If you want scientists to be inspired by doing more for health and science development, is for his countrymen to adopt what they’re doing. Personally, it’s very difficult to compete with foreign products in your home country,” added Destura.

Support from the Government

Dr. Destura said that their technology was supposed to be launched five years ago. Currently, they only have one of three of their target adopters, which is the DOH. The other adopters are supposed to be private health institutions and the local government units.

“This is the first locally developed technology for dengue diagnostics that has reached this far,” he said.

If adopters are not responsive to what they are doing, Destura said, then they “fail” the government and the science community.

“The technology is owned by the people because it came from your pockets. The government is just the administrator of your money. So, basically it is owned by the country, it is rightful that we adopt it and be proud of what we are doing,” he urged.

The team that developed the Biotek-M is composed of seven inventors and four support staff.

“The government is spending millions and millions of pesos to spark development in the country. I’ve never seen this much funding opportunity provided since I came back from the US in 2005,” he said.

For reference, the science and technology development costs about PHP14 million while the Technology Adaptation and Promotion Institute (TAPI) costs PHP11 million for the field post marketing research. The action of the government is “very encouraging” according to Destura.

via Philippine News Agency / Perla Lena