Philippines should try other testing methods to boost COVID-19 response —task force

The government should be open to the use of other testing methods and technologies to strengthen its coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) response, National Task Force Against COVID-19 (NTF) deputy implementer and testing czar Vince Dizon said Wednesday.

In a virtual press briefing, Dizon, however, clarified that new testing methods should be first evaluated for their accuracy and efficacy.

“Napakabilis po at napaka-innovative ng mga technologies sa COVID-19 testing na nakita natin sa mga nakaraang buwan. Dapat ang Pilipinas ay handa at mabilis din mag-adapt,” he said.

Dizon was talking about rapid antigen and breath testing.

The United States Center for Disease Control defined rapid antigen test as a COVID-19 test conducted using nasopharyngeal or nasal swab specimens and placed directly into a rapid test kit mixed with extraction buffer or reagent to detect the presence of a specific viral antigen, thus implying a current viral infection.

Meanwhile, in the breath test, which is the latest COVID-19 testing technology from Israel, breath aerosols will be collected and a machine called a biosafety station will be used to hold samples.

“Kami sa NTF naniniwala na dapat very open at mabilis mag-adapt sa mga technologies na ito… Sana kung maaral ng mabilis at ng mabuti ng ating mga eksperto, dapat open po tayo para matulungan tayo sa ating response,” Dizon said.

On Wednesday, the Department of Health said the government will come up with revised omnibus guidelines on COVID-19 testing, detection, isolation, quarantine management.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the Inter-Agency Task Force already approved the pilot run for the antigen test in Baguio City.

“Kapag lumabas na ang resulta noon, ilalabas natin ang omnibus guidelines. The whole document will be updated,” she said.

Vergeire, however, earlier said the sensitivity level of a rapid antigen test should reach 80% — a threshold that is not available among rapid antigen tests in the Philippine market.

Meanwhile, private sector initiative Project ARK (Antibody Rapid Test Kit) said breath testing can produce results quicker and also detect asymptomatic COVID-19 cases even during the first two days of infection.

The group was also pushing for the use of saliva testing where samples will be collected by gargling a standardized saline solution.

Project ARK said it will seek government approval to conduct clinical trials in the Philippines using the new testing technologies.

DOH said its experts are studying the breath and saliva tests but maintained that the polymerase chain reaction test remained the gold standard.—LDF, GMA News