COVID-19 self-tests give rise to underdeclared data

CEBU, Philippines —  Cebu City Emergency Operations Center chief implementer City Councilor Joel Garganera revealed that many people have resorted to COVID-19 antigen test kits, which has led to underreporting of cases.

“Daghan gyud kaayong naghilom-hilom maong kanang atong resulta, and are just managing on their own, so ang data under-declared na,” said Garganera.

Garganera said those doing self-testing should report to their Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERTs), the EOC, as well as to teleconsultations for proper monitoring and interventions.

“Maayo gyud unta na mo-report sila if nag-antigen sila sama sa BHERTS aron ma-monitor ang ilang daily temperature ug uban pa…ug sa EOC ug labi na sa telegabai or teleconsult kay arong sakto ang ilang pag-manage,” he said.

Garganera also said reporting the test results would also be for their own benefit as some need certification for a clean bill of health before reporting back to work.

“Unya naa tay problema afterwards kung mag back to work sila unya sila-sila ra. Who can attest nga nag isolate sila? Naay nag monitor nila? naay nag manage nila? Mubalik na sad nato. Naa gyuy mga kumpanya na mag require gyud na, mu report gyud ka,” said Garganera.

During the latest televised Talk to The People of President Rodrigo Duterte and Cabinet officials, FDA officer-in-charge Oscar Gutierrez reported that FDA has approved two Covid-19 antigen self-test kits already.

The two are Panbio Covid-19 antigen self-test (Abbot) and Sars-Cov-2 antigen rapid test(Labnovation Technologies, Inc) self-test for home use.

Gutierrez said 31 other self-test antigen kits are now at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) for performance validation.

Along with this, Gutierrez reminded the public to only buy FDA-certified test kits to ensure accuracy of results as well as to buy those only in licensed drug stores.

“Importante po talaga na dumaan sa performance validation ng RITM. Kasi po kung mababa po ang sensitivity ay marami pong false negative po na mangyayari,” said Gutierrez.

Aside from the two self-test kits, FDA has certified 42 other antigen test kits that need health care worker or professional assistance, 27 antibody test kits and 45 PCR test kits.

Gutierrez also disclosed that 86 COVID-19 test kits have been removed or recalled by FDA due to its failure to meet the RITM performance validation or voluntary surrender of special certification while others are uncertified products. — JMD (FREEMAN)