Omnibus testing guidelines for COVID-19 not yet finalized, DOH clarifies

The Department of Health (DOH) on Sunday clarified that the Omnibus Guidelines on COVID-19 Testing have not yet been finalized, following claims on social media that it had endorsed the use of an antigen test kit.

“The DOH is issuing this statement to correct the social media post of TruLaboratories Corporation claiming that ‘DOH has finally approved the use of Antigen Test Kits and is now included in the Omnibus Guidelines on COVID-19 Testing,’” it said in a statement.

“DOH clarifies that the Omnibus Guidelines on COVID-19 Testing HAS NOT YET BEEN FINALIZED OR APPROVED, nor has it been signed and issued for implementation,” the DOH added.

The department also stressed that it does not endorse specific brands or distributors of antigen COVID-19 test kits, although some had already been approved for commercial use by the Food and Drug Administration.

“DOH calls on the public to be vigilant when it comes to information, and verify everything through the DOH's official website and social media pages,” it said.

The government’s inter-agency COVID-19 task force earlier said it was mulling the use of antigen technology to ramp up the country’s testing capacity. 

A COVID-19 testing firm also maintained that antigen test kits have a high sensitivity rate. 

The Philippines has logged 189,601 confirmed cases as of Sunday afternoon. — Julia Mari Ornedo/BM, GMA News