DOH warns vs. supposed nCoV test kits being sold online

The Department of Health in Wednesday cautioned the public against buying supposed test kits for the 2019 novel coronavirus being sold online.

DOH spokesperson Undersecretary Eric Domingo said these test kits have not been validated by the World Health Organization.

“We don’t want false results. We want to make sure that the results are accurate. So we are not advising anybody to buy the test kits right now that are being sold or being peddled online kasi wala pa talagang WHO na validated kit,” Domingo told reporters in an ambush interview.

Even if the WHO validates the test kits, the laboratories that would conduct the tests must also undergo tests to prove their capability.

“Che-check mo muna yung proficiency nila. Che-check mo muna yung biosafety facility nila to make sure that this virus doesn’t get out. Once they’ve proven their capability, the directive of the secretary to RITM was to accredit competent laboratories,” Domingo said.

The Philippines has recorded three confirmed cases of the 2019 novel coronavirus so far, all Chinese, including one fatality. The third case had flown back to China on January 31. — BM, GMA News