DOH to include results of antigen test in official COVID tally; high number of cases expected

The Department of Health (DOH) said the public should expect to see a high number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the coming days with the inclusion of rapid antigen test results in the official case bulletin.

DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that use of  rapid antigen test will now be considered as a confirmatory test in Metro Manila,  Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal--which is collectively known as the “NCR-plus bubble.”

“It was part of the measures na i-implement natin nung tayo ay  nag-usap sa IATF (Interagency Task Force) para mas magkaroon tayo ng mas dynamic na response (It was part of the measures that we will be implementing when we discussed during the IATF (meeting) so that we can have a more dynamic response),” said Vergeire in a press briefing on Wednesday. 

“In our existing guidelines kasama yan sa mga protocols  na kapag may mga outbreaks or kaya ay biglang may pagtaas ng kaso (we have in our protocols that when there are outbreaks or there is a sudden increase in cases),  we can use the rapid antigen test as confirmatory test and this is backed up by evidence and the WHO (World Health Organization),” she added. 

“Isasagawa po natin iyan sa NCR plus  bubble para bumilis ang testing, mas ma-identify natin agad agad kung sino ang positibo at at magkaroon na tayo agad ng isolation and quarantine (We will do that in NCR-plus bubble to hasten the testing as well as the identification of positive individuals so that we can immediately conduct isolation and quarantine),” she furthered. 

Vergeire said that this new policy will help “hasten and facilitate our response on the ground in order to cut the transmission of the disease.”

Previously, only results from the RT-PCR testing are being considered in the official case count since this method is considered the “gold standard” in detecting the virus that causes COVID-19.   

“In accordance with existing guidelines, while a positive rapid antigen test result is considered a confirmatory test for COVID-19 suspect and probable cases and close contacts, those with a negative result will be subject to a confirmatory RT-PCR test or a repeat antigen test after 48 hours,” the DOH said in statement. 

The DOH also noted that “the use of rapid antigen tests as confirmatory tests shall only be allowed until the declaration of outbreak in the NCR-plus area has been lifted.”

“Moreover, antigen testing shall not be used for border control, pre-travel testing, workplace screening, or testing of asymptomatic general contacts,” it said. 

The DOH also emphasized that “only qualified licensed healthcare professionals in local health offices, health facilities, accredited quarantine and isolation facilities, and certified COVID-19 confirmatory laboratory facilities are authorized to administer rapid antigen tests and interpret its results.”

Meanwhile, the Health official encouraged all testing laboratories to continue their operations during the observance of Holy Week.

“We appeal to all our laboratories that, because of this increase we are experiencing, we implore them to please do not close your labs this season,” said Vergeire. 

“We need them to stay open so we can have continuous monitoring of cases,” she added.