1st batch of gov’t-procured rapid antigen test kits arrive in PH — DOH

MANILA, Philippines — The first batch of government-procured rapid antigen test kits has arrived in the country, the Department of Health (DOH) said Thursday.

The DOH has yet to provide exact figures on the number of test kits that arrived, although it earlier said that 30,000 kits in initial batch are set to be delivered in the country.

“I think the other day dumating na ‘yung first batch ng rapid antigen, so as soon as mai-distribute ‘yan sa ating local governments they will already start [testing],” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in an online press briefing.

(I think the other day the first batch of rapid antigen test kits has arrived, so as soon as it is distributed to local government units, they will start using the test kits.)

The government plans to procure 500,000 antigen test kits to ramp up COVID-19 testing in view of the surge in cases, according to Vergeire.

The DOH earlier said it will allow the use of rapid antigen tests as diagnostic and confirmatory tests for close contacts and COVID-19 suspect and probable cases in Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, and Bulacan without the need for reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test.

The move was meant to “ensure that the appropriate response and control measures may be immediately initiated by local governments units to contain further spread of the virus,” the agency said.

However, individuals who test negative for COVID-19 in rapid antigen tests should still undergo a confirmatory RT-PCR or repeat antigen test, according to DOH.

JPV