DOH warns public vs. COVID-19 test kits sold online

The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday warned the public against buying COVID-19 rapid test kits being sold online, stressing that only healthcare workers are authorized to administer such tests.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the DOH has seen a number of COVID-19 rapid test kits being sold online.

“Sana po ay ‘wag po kayong bibili ng ganito online at ipapagawa kung kani-kanino lang. Ito po ay gagamitin sa loob ng ospital with the guidance of a doctor,” she said at a virtual press briefing.

The Food and Drug Administration announced on Monday that it had approved five COVID-19 rapid test kits for use.

“Ang mga rapid test kits na ito ay hindi binebenta sa publiko. Tanging mga ospital at healthcare workers lamang ang maaaring mag-administer nito kung kaya’t ‘wag po tayong bastang magtitiwala sa hindi authorized na mag-aalok ng rapid test kits,” Vergeire warned.

The health official also explained that the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test remains to be the “gold standard” since it can detect SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

Rapid test kits, on the other hand, are only capable of detecting antibodies produced by the human body to combat COVID-19.

“Dahil dito, hindi makukumpirma ng rapid test kits kung ang isang tao ay talaga positibo sa COVID-19 o hindi kaya ay kinakailangan pa ring sumailalim ng isang pasyente sa confirmatory testing gamit ang mga PCR test upang siguraduhin ang resulta,” Vergeire said.

The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, the national reference laboratory, recently certified several sub-national laboratories across the country to conduct independent COVID-19 testing.

The respiratory illness has so far claimed 88 lives and infected over 2,000 people in the Philippines. -NB, GMA News