DOH discourages rapid testing as clearance for returning employees

The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday discouraged the use of rapid testing to screen employees who are returning to work as evidence show that it yields false positive or false negative results.

In a virtual press briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire responded to the calls of some groups saying that the use of rapid tests for returning workers contributed to the increase of COVID-19 cases.

“The DOH has always had that position. In fact, may protocol tayong nilabas tungkol doon sa ating guidelines how we will use the rapid antibody tsaka 'yung guidelines natin for return to work,” she said.

“Doon sa return to work, sinabi talaga natin doon, na hindi natin nire-recommend na magkaroon ng mass clearing of employees using antibody rapid tests,” she added.

Vergeire cited a resolution of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) that rapid testing results should not be a condition for an employee to go back to work.

According to her, many companies are using rapid testing as a clearance for their employees to return for work.

“So dapat, hindi ginagawa, But, unfortunately, marami nga ang gumagawa especially mga companies na gusto na ring magpabalik ng kanilang mga empleyado,” she said.

“It has been shown with evidence na talagang maraming nagfa-false positive o false negative with this type of testing kaya hindi dapat siayng gamitin for screening,” she added.

In April, Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez asked businesses to test their employees since the restriction for community quarantine was relaxed.

He underscored that companies should used PCR-based testing for the screening of their employees. —KBK, GMA News