Pasig City is ramping up its coronavirus testing efforts by providing its residents with free coronavirus disease (COVID-19) testing, using an antibody test that is “more effective” than rapid testing.
In a Facebook Live netcast on Wednesday (Aug. 12), Mayor Vico Sotto announced that the local government will be testing residents using enhanced chemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA).
“Pareho silang antibody testing, pero mas effective siya. Pagka five days na after infection, halos 100 percent na ‘yung sensitivity at specificity ng ECLIA kaya maganda siya (Both are antibody testing but the ECLIA is more effective. Five days after a person is infected, the sensitivity and specificity of ECLIA is almost 100 percent, so it is better),” he explained.
According to the local government, ECLIA is the first fully automated COVID-19 antibody test certified by the Food and Drug Administration of both the United States and the Philippines.
ECLIA is a type of antibody test that uses blood samples to determine if a patient has been exposed to the coronavirus and they have developed antibodies against it.
Sotto said they will no longer use rapid test kits, adding that they are only using up their remaining test kits.
The mayor said 300 residents can be accommodated daily for the city's ECLIA testing which will be held at the Tanghalang Pasigueño.
Residents wishing to get tested must first call the local government's testing hotlines at 0928-291-1716 or 0928-291-1717 to reserve a slot and have their schedule booked.
Sotto noted that the testing will be done by schedule and walk-ins will not be accepted to ensure that residents will not flock to the testing site.
Aside from this, the mayor announced that the Pasig City government will also test all residents experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.
“‘Yung mga mga sintomas, lahat kayo ay ite-test natin. Tumawag lang po kayo sa hotline natin or pumunta kayo sa health center for evaluation ng doctor o nang medical professional (Those with symptoms, we will test you all. Just call our hotline or go to the health center for a doctor 's or a medical professional's evaluation),” Sotto said, adding that the testing is free of charge.
He explained that residents whose evaluations show that they need to be tested will then be scheduled for the procedure.
Those experiencing symptoms related to COVID-19 may contact the Pasig’s COVID-19 Operations Center at 8643-0000 or at 0961-582-5019.