An investigation by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) showed there were no false positive results on the more than 40 RT-PCR tests conducted by a Philippine Red Cross (PRC) laboratory.
“The RITM found no evidence of contamination for the forty-eight (48) cases tested by PRC Subic laboratory and the results were found to be valid and reliable,” the RITM said in a statement.
October 18 — RITM Validates Philippine Red Cross Subic Laboratory Results pic.twitter.com/OkVduKWsHq
— Philippine Red Cross (@philredcross) October 18, 2021
It can be recalled that President Rodrigo Duterte recently ordered the Department of Health (DOH) to investigate the matter after 28 individuals initially tested positive in the laboratory, but had different results in another laboratory.
Read more: PRRD seeks accuracy of PH Red Cross COVID-19 testing
PRC molecular laboratories chief Dr. Paulyn Jean Ubial said the 1% margin for the possibility of false positive RT-PCR results is acceptable amid environmental factors such as contamination and timing of sampling.
“The only issue we have there is bakit ginawa in a public hearing when they could have written to us,” she said.
“If there was no malicious intent, they could have called us… We could have addressed it immediately. Eh hindi, ginawa sa public hearing, parang nasira ‘yung reputation ng tao,” she added. – Report from Mark Fetalco/AG-rir
