DOH: Antigen test not recommended for screening in parties

The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday said the use of antigen test for screening in attending parties is not recommended, adding that it may give false positive results.

At the press briefing, DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire reminded the public that antigen test is accurate for individuals with COVID-19 symptoms.

“Dapat maalala natin lahat for the public, the antigen test is accurate kapag ang isang tao ay may sintomas kaya po ang recommendation at guidelines na pinalabas natin dyan 'pag tayo may symptoms of COVID-19, we can either choose to have the antigen test or the RT PCR test,” she said.

(The public should remember that antigen test is accurate for those with symptoms that's why in the recommendation and guidelines that we issued, when we have COVID-19 symptoms, we can either choose to have the antigen test or the RT PCR test.)

“Ngayon pag ginagamit po natin ang (If we use) antigen test for screening which is really not recommended, you might get false positive or false negative results. And this would just give you inaccurate management,” she added.

Vergeire said it would be better to have health screening in parties and wear facemasks to prevent the spread of the viral disease.

“The best thing we will do para tayo ay magkakaroon ng parties would be that we have our health screening kayo bago pumunta sa party. If you know you have been exposed to a positive individual, if you know that you have symptoms huwag na tayo pumunta sa party at baka tayo ay makapanghawa,” she said.

(The best thing we will do if we have parties would be that we have our health screening before we go.  If you know you have been exposed to a positive individual, if you know that you have symptoms it is best not go to prevent transmission.)

“Other than that everybody has to wear their mask kung talagang gusto natin mag-ingat that is the only way that we can ensure at maassure 'yung mga kasama natin that the transmission will be kept at a minimum,” she added.—AOL, GMA Integrated News