Red Cross to start COVID-19 mass testing
The Philippine Red Cross is set to begin massive testing for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) next week, starting in Quezon City, according to its chair, Sen. Richard Gordon.
Gordon, interviewed over ABS-CBN News Channel, said the city had the biggest number of COVID-19 patients but testing would be done in other areas as well.
“We plan to test as much as possible nationwide,” Gordon said, adding that the test would be administered on people showing symptoms of the virus.
The PRC would use two machines similar to the ones used in Wuhan, where the virus was first detected. The machines have an automated system and “fairly good accuracy,” he said. The machines conduct a PCR or polymerase chain reaction test rather than a rapid test, he added.
The PRC would try to test 1,500 people per machine daily but it would not be able to reach its goal immediately as the PRC wanted its personnel to get used to the equipment first, Gordon said.
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