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DOH warns vs home use of rapid antigen tests

Philippines | National

DOH warns vs home use of rapid antigen tests

By Jhon Aldrin Casinas

The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday, April 12, issued a warning against the use of rapid antigen tests at home, saying that such tests for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) may only give people false results.

(JANSEN ROMERO / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)

“No, we cannot use rapid antigen tests in our home. Hindi pa iyan pinapayagan ng ating regulatory process (Our regulatory process has not yet allowed that),” DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a virtual press briefing.

“Ang ating sabi (What we are saying is), rapid antigen test should only be administered by medical professionals na (who are) authorized in doing these),” she added.

The health official noted that the rapid antigen tests should be conducted in an appropriate venue, with the guidance of healthcare professionals.

“So ‘yung ginagamit sa bahay at nabibili sa online, baka ho kayo ay magkaroon pa ng problema diyan and you will be misguided kasi baka bigyan kayo ng false results (So those that are used at home and bought online, you may have more problems with that and you will be misguided because they may give you false results),” Vergeire said.

“Mas magaling na lang po dito na lang po tayo sa ating mga licensed laboratories makipag usap at kumuha o magpagawa nyan para tayo ay sigurado (It's better that we just talk to licensed laboratories so we can be sure),” she added.

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