Baguio antigen pilot testing not yet complete, NTF clarifies

The National Task Force against COVID-19 on Wednesday clarified that the antigen pilot testing in Baguio City is not yet complete, adding that it continues to work with the Department of Health as regards the possible use of antigen test.

A statement was issued by the NTF after its spokesman, retired Air Force major general Restituto Padilla, had said that the results of the pilot run of antigen testing in Baguio City did not pass the standards of the DOH.

"The Baguio antigen pilot is still not complete and no validation yet. This statement is issued to clarify the earlier statements of the NTF spokesperson made during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay which may have been understood as an end to the possible adoption of the said testing protocol," the NTF said.

"There are many antigen test kits in the market and the recent pilot was specific to a few of these which remain for evaluation. The FDA stands ready too in reviewing new types of COVID-19 test as they come," it added.

According to the US Food and Drug Administration, the antigen tests "quickly detect fragments of proteins found on or within the virus by testing samples collected from the nasal cavity using swabs." 

Earlier in the day, Padilla said more than half of the results of the Baguio antigen test were compatible with the results of the RT-PCR test, but still under the required parameter. He said the DOH wants it to be 85% compatible.

The government is also considering saliva and breath tests in detecting the disease, Padilla said. — RSJ, GMA News