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THE PANAMAX IS FINALLY HERE!

March 17, 2021 | 9:22 am

DLSMHSI’s Cavite-De La Salle COVID-19 Diagnostic Center has scaled up again with the installation of the Panamax automated RNA extraction system by the Manila HealthTek Incorporated. The Panamax was delivered and commissioned last February 13. Present during the turnover and commissioning were
representatives from Manila HealthTek Incorporated and Security Bank Foundation which provided supplemental funding for the acquisition. IT was received by the Vice Chancellor for Research and Director of the CDCDC, Dr.
Charles Y. Yu who was instrumental in securing funding for the acquisition of the system. The Panamax system is a complementary system of the GenAmplify, the Filipino-developed COVID-19 test kits invented by our very own, Dr. Raul Destura, a graduate of our Medicine Class ’92.

The Panamax is expected to enhance, accelerate, and scale up the institution’s response to the pandemic through COVID-19 testing. Further, it does not only support testing samples for COVID-19. It also positions the institution for a more rapid response to future emerging diseases as it can also process tests using plasma, whole blood, cell suspension, serum, microorganism cultures, and microbial products, both for clinical and research services. It can also process samples for HIV, Hepatitis B, CMV, Epstein Barr Viruses, and other respiratory samples such as for influenza and other diseases. It can also support genetics and genomic testing.

The installation of this system was made possible through a fundraising effort by the music group Ben&Ben, and supplemental funding from Security Bank Foundation, Manila HealthTek, and the DLSMHSI community which got together to contribute funds as a birthday gift to our President, Br. Gus Boquer on his 77th birthday last November 13, 2020, which was coordinated by the Institutional Advancement and Linkages Office.

In a message for the DLMSHSI community, Dr. Raul Destura expressed congratulations to the community and expressed his wishes for Br. Gus and Dr. Charles Yu, who were both celebrating their birthdays. “It is so fitting that we announce the acquisition of the Panamax system today, during the birthday of Br. Gus, one of the great leaders behind La Salle, and Dr. Charles Yu, who was very instrumental in setting up your molecular laboratory and its state-of-the-art system. On behalf of Manila HealthTek, I would like to express our congratulations and good wishes to our celebrants. We wish you both good health, more happiness and continued strength as you steer the directions of the University and its response, the Lasallian way for our patients,” said Dr. Destura.

The Panamax is the third automated RNA extraction system being used at the CDCDC, which enables it to process a larger number of samples as it automates and cuts time for one of the most exacting steps in the Rt-PCR testing process.

“We are very thankful to our funding partners, Ben&Ben, Security Bank Foundation, and of course, Manila HealthTek, for donating a substantial supplemental funding for the purchase of this machine. This would enable the DLSMHSI Molecular COVID-19 Laboratory to do more and help more in our country’s fight against this pandemic. Because of generous supporters like them, we are encouraged to keep on working hard in this very important battle,” said Dr. Charles Y Yu Director, CDCDC and Vice Chancellor for Research, De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute (DLSMHSI).

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