As part of the national campaign to eliminate tuberculosis (TB), around 440 Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) underwent Interferon Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) testing, a vital diagnostic tool for detecting latent TB infection.

The 4-day testing activity, which started on July 28 and concluded today, July 31, 2025, was spearheaded by the Department of Health (DOH) in coordination with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP). IGRA is a blood test that detects TB infection by measuring the immune system’s response to TB-specific proteins. This is intensified efforts to control and eventually eliminate TB in high-risk settings like jail facilities.