The Food and Drug Administration of the United States has authorized the use of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) self-testing kit for home use.
The test manufacturer Lucira Health said the kits can be used by individuals aged 14 years-old and above through a prescription of a health provider.
The test involves nasal swabbing and the results can be revealed within 30 minutes. A kit is priced at around $50 dollars or around ₱2,400.
Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Director General Eric Domingo said they are open to the new type of test kit. However, he emphasized that the new testing method should undergo processing.
“Nakita natin iyan. Mayroon siyang maliit na kit, pagkatapos saliva lamang ang kailangan at may makinang maliit para mabasa ‘yung resulta niya (We’ve seen it. It has a small kit and saliva is needed. It has a small machine to read the result),” Domingo described.
“Nabigyan na ito ng EUA sa US-FDA. Kapag naman sila ay nag-register dito sa atin, madali naman po iyon at madali silang ma-approve dito sa atin (It was granted emergency use authorization by the US FDA. It will be easy if they register in our country. They will be approved immediately.),” Domingo added. – Report from Mark Fetalco
