Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Reference Laboratory Program

The Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Reference Laboratory (ARSRL) aims to form a professional network of sentinel regional and central laboratories that will provide quality antimicrobial resistance surveillance data.

Emerging and Re-Emerging Bacterial Diseases

The National Reference Laboratory for Emerging and Re-emerging Diseases (NRL-ERBD) is at the forefront in the diagnostic surveillance for notifiable diseases such as diphtheria, atypical pneumonia, leptospirosis, and anthrax.

Bacterial Enteric Diseases

The NRL-BED provides bacteriological examination such as culture isolation, identification of bacterial pathogens, antimicrobial testing and detection via serological as well as laboratory referral services such as, but not limited to, confirmatory testing, research, and training.

Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses

The RITM-National Influenza Center (RITM-NIC) was established through the support of the DOH, WHO and US-CDC, to perform routine virologic surveillance of Influenza-like illness.

Malaria

The Department of Medical Entomology is primarily involved in the conduct of basic and applied researches on vectors of infectious diseases such as dengue, filariasis, Japanese encephalitis, malaria, and the like.

Measles, Rubella, and Other Exanthems

The Department of Virology of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, designated as the National Reference Laboratory for Measles and other exanthems in 2000, continues to provide support the Measles Elimination Programme.

Polio and Other Enteroviruses

The RITM-Department of Virology has been designated as the National Reference Laboratory for Polio and Other Enteroviruses in 2000.

Transfusions-Transmissible Infections

By virtue of Department Order No. 393-E series of 2000, the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine was designated as the National Reference Laboratory for confirmatory testing of blood donors and units.

Tuberculosis

The project for the establishment of the National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory (NTRL) in the Republic of the Philippines was a grant aid by the government of Japan as a token of friendship and cooperation through the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

Mycology

The National Reference Laboratory for Mycology is the lead laboratory for the diagnosis of medically important fungi. It provides technical and laboratory support for the isolation and identification of fungi.

National Rotavirus Laboratory

The Department of Virology of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) was designated as the National Rotavirus Laboratory by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2012.