League of Provinces urges DOH to expedite guidelines for COVID-19 rapid testing

The League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) on Tuesday urged the Department of Health (DOH) to expedite the issuance of guidelines for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) rapid testing.

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV, LPP president Marinduque Governor Presbitero Velasco Jr. added that municipal health workers and nurses nationwide should be trained how to administer the rapid tests.

“Sumulat na po ako on behalf of League of Provinces of the Philippines noong Friday po, March 26. At wala pa naman pong official na sagot,” Velasco said.

On Monday, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of five rapid test kits for the detection of COVID-19 infection.

“Magandang balita po ito, pero pakibilisan lang po ang guidelines at training. Hindi naman po basta ang paggamit nitong rapid screening test kit na ito. Kukuha pa kami ng pondo diyan,” Velasco said.

“Importante na ang DOH po ay kailangan maglabas agad ng official pronouncement na pwede nang bilhin at umpisahan na ‘yung training kaagad,” he added.

Velasco, Junior: Kaya hinihiling ko kay @SecDuque, kung puwede ay bilisan at mag-isyu ng official directive na puwede nang gamitin itong lima na sinasabi ni Usec. Domingo.

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) March 30, 2020

Velasco expressed frustration over the slow process of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based testing for COVID-19, which could take a week.

He pointed out that the rapid testing will help local governments to decide immediately on how to handle patients with possible COVID-19 in their respective areas.

Velasco said without the pronouncement and a memorandum circular from the DOH, local governments cannot procure the rapid test kits.

FDA Director General Health Undersecretary Eric Domingo earlier reminded local government officials, heads of agencies, hospitals, and private companies to be cautious in using the rapid test kits.

Domingo said they should seek the help of doctors in testing.

"The rapid test kits will yield a faster result compared to PCR based kits, but it is important that a trained health professional will evaluate and interpret the results,” Domingo said.

“We have to be very cautious in using these rapid test kits because they measure antibodies and not the viral load itself," he added. —Joviland Rita/KG, GMA News