By Pearl Gumapos
The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) on Wednesday (Jan. 26) said that healthcare workers are not needed when administering self-test COVID-19 kits.
“Hindi ito [self-test COVID-19 kits] nangangailangan ng isang healthcare worker na magsasagawa ng pharyngeal na swab collection,” RITM Laboratory Chief Dr. Armando Tandoc III said during the Laging Handa public briefing.
Tandoc said it is important that the instructions for the test kits are properly followed as this may affect the accuracy of the result.
“Sa pagsagawa ng test mismo, mayroong mga instructions na susundin kung paano ilagay iyong sample sa cartridge at kung gaano katagal iyong hihintayin bago magkaroon ng resulta,” he added.
According to Tandoc, both of the self-test kits approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) require a nasal sample.
Tandoc also emphasized that it is important to use kits approved by the FDA themselves.
“Mahalaga na iyong gagamitin natin na mga kits sa pag-test ay authorized ng FDA,” he said. –bny
