DOH to issue omnibus guidelines on COVID-19 testing

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health is set to issue guidelines on the conduct of coronavirus disease testing to avoid confusion.

“We are now going to issue these omnibus guidelines for different testing methodologies so that our implementers would be guided on what type of test can be used in specific situations for COVID-19,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire told ABS-CBN News Channel on Wednesday.

“In these omnibus guidelines, we will explain the timing of the test, the type of the test to be used, and what would be the accurate results for these tests,” said Vergeire.

Vergeire said the DOH has already sought advice from various medical groups, and will also consult with local government units on Thursday on the issuance of the guidelines.

She said the guidelines may be issued next week once the series of consultations is completed.

Vergeire reiterated that the rapid antibody test should not be used for screening and as a stand-alone test for COVID-19 as it can only detect antibodies and not the virus itself. She added that this has been the policy even from the beginning of the outbreak.

She said the DOH recommends employers to only conduct a “symptomatic-based screening” of their employees and not mass testing especially with the use of rapid tests.

“When they do their screening every day or upon resumption to work, they have to check all individuals or employees who have symptoms and they have to isolate and test them, and also those who upon going back to work has had symptoms for the past 14 days, they have to be isolated and tested,” said the official.

“For the rest, they can go to work and they will do strict monitoring of symptoms every day,” added Vergeire.

Vergeire also noted that there should be a timing observed in conducting tests, saying there could not be an immediate accurate result in testing an individual a day after his exposure to a COVID-19 patient. She explained that it takes time for the virus to develop in the body of an individual.

/MUF