DOH to probe PBA bubble test incident
The Department of Health (DOH will look into the incident regarding the referee who got a positive result in the RT-PCR test but turned out negative in the antigen test of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) bubble.
DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire explained that the appropriate test to be used depends on the patient’s viral load.
“It would have been better if he was tested again by an RT-PCR and not antigen [because the] antigen test, it is really accurate during the time that the person is infectious, has high viral load and is symptomatic.”
However, the PBA administration suspected a false positive after the two tests yielded conflicting results. According to PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial, they will wait for another 3 to 5 days before the referee goes through a PCR swab test.
The DOH reiterated exercising caution in interpreting a test result as false positive or false negative. It pointed out that the referee might have been pre-symptomatic resulting to the negative antigen test.
The PBA disclosed that the 7 individuals who came in contact with the referee have been put in quarantine and are currently waiting for the result of their swab tests.
The Health department reminded the PBA to regularly monitor the referees and players and to comply with the minimum health standards.
Report from Mark Fetalco
