UP-developed COVID-19 testing kits recalled over minor problem -DOH

The COVID-19 testing kits developed by the University of the Philippines have been recalled over a minor defect, Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire said Wednesday.

Vergeire said that the minor problem was discovered when the testing kits went under validation of the government-run Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), the country’s main laboratory in processing COVID-19 test results.

“Doon sa validation, nalaman na may problema ang kanilang testing kit. Very minor, kaya ni-recall iyong mga testing kits nila na dapat ipapamigay sa mga ospital,” Vergeire said in a DOH forum. She did not elaborate.

“I cannot really disclose what the issue is based on the UP testing kits’ proficiency test,” she said.

The testing kits were developed by scientists from the UP-Manila National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH).

Vergeire said UP has since been addressing the minor defect.

“Nakausap namin sila noong nakaraang araw, at nasa final stages na sila in correcting the deficiency of the kits. So by next week, maipapa-validate na sa RITM ‘yung UP testing kits,” she said.

Vergeire earlier assured the public that the Philippines has enough RT-PCR (Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction) and rapid testing kits.

RT-PCR kits are processed in a laboratory and tests the individual for COVID-19, while a rapid test kit tests someone for presence of antibodies IgM (immunoglobulin) and IgG (immunoglobulin G).

Testing positive for IgM is a sign of active COVID-19 infection while having IgG indicates that a person has recently recovered from it.

The Philippines’ positivity rate for those tested for COVID-19 is at 7.9%, a figure which Vergeire said is at par with the government’s response and standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO).

“7.9% tayo, mas mababa sa 10%t na sinet na benchmark ng WHO. Considering that benchmark, we are on the right track,” Vergeire said.

The Philippines has registered 12,942 COVID-19 cases so far. Of this number, 2,843 recovered while 837 died. --KBK, GMA News