By Christine Fabro
The Department of Health (DOH) warns the public to interpret the COVID-19 case data cautiously amid the issues with molecular laboratory outputs.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a Laging Handa public briefing on Saturday (Sept. 25) that the DOH is analyzing if the use of COVID-19 antigen tests among individuals are proper and must be included in the daily COVID-19 case bulletin.
“Mayroon tayong mga issues sa laboratory outputs. Nakita po nating bumaba ang laboratory [outputs]. And we are also trying to analyze if the use of antigen test na hindi pa po natin naisasama sa ngayon sa ating mga datos ay nakakaapekto dito,” Vergeire said.
According to Vergeire, one of the factors being considered on the decline of laboratory outputs were antigen testing, which was a common screening procedure in borders, work, and other activities or events that require a negative result of COVID-19 test.
“So, kailangan lang po talagang mai-report ito pong mga antigen test results, kailangan din po tama iyong paggamit,” she said.
Based on the Health department’s recent analysis, only about 300 out of almost 6,000 antigen test results were found to be valid and were used according to its right purpose.
“…Kami ay nakikiusap at nanawagan sa ating mga local government and sa ating mga kababayan na may tamang gamit po ang antigen test, para po makakuha tayo ng accurate na result at ito po ang dapat nating makuha at maisama sa ating kuwenta ng mga datos sa pang-araw-araw,” Vergeire appealed to the public.
Vergeire said the DOH is in coordination with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and National Task Force Against COVID-19 to mobilize regional offices of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the DOH for the registration process of clinics and [local government units] that use COVID-19 rapid antigen test kits.
Starting next week, Vergeire said that antigen test results will gradually be included in the daily COVID-19 tally. -rir
