Makati City launches country's first pooled testing

Makati City is the first city in the country to employ pooled testing for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and about 6,000 residents, including market vendors and public utility vehicle drivers were tapped to participate, Raffy Tima reported Wednesday on "24 Oras."

The city government used the pool of five system or swab samples taken from five persons and testing these with the use of only one kit.

If a test kit tests positive, everybody in the pool will have to be tested. If it is negative, it means they are all negative for the virus.

The test results will come out in three days, the city government said.

Makati Mayor Abigail Binay said they chose a small pool size for a more accurate result and as suggested by experts from the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine (RITM) and the Philippine Society of Pathologists.

She added that they are considering taking swab samples from 6,000 more residents in the next six days.

“If the pooled testing is a success, puwede natin ‘yon gamitin for condominiums. ‘Yong condominiums puwede nating i-pooled test, puwede sa business establishments. Maganda and malaki po ang potential ng pooled testing,” Binay said.

After the testing, the RITM will study the results to determine the method’s effectiveness.

“Kung magwo-work siya sa isang siyudad tulad ng Makati, then malamang mag-work din siya sa mga siyudad dito sa NCR at sa ibang areas na maraming kaso,” said Inter-Agency Task Force deputy chief implementor Vince Dizon.

Aside from pooled testing, the government is also eyeing the use of antigen and saliva tests for COVID-19. -- Ma. Angelica Garcia/BAP, GMA News