The Department of Health (DOH) urged the public to get tested only in licensed coronavirus disease (COVID-19) testing laboratories and not to perform self-swabbing.

“Kung kailangan po natin magpa swab meron po tayong mga lisensyadong laboratoryo o hindi kaya may mga laboratories tayo na nagho-home service na lisensyado din po ng Department of Health (If we need to get a swab test, we have licensed laboratories. There are also laboratories that do home service that are licensed by the Department of Health),” said DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire in a recent press briefing.

“Dito po tayo pumunta para sigurado pong may quality at accurate ang makukuha nating resulta (Get tested only in laboratories to make sure you get quality and accurate results),” she added.

Actor Robin Padilla recently went viral after he posted a video of himself conducting a COVID-19 swab test.

Related story: DOH tells public: No to self-swabbing

“Alam naman po natin na meron tayong mga pamantayan at standards na pinapatupad para tayo ay magkaroon dekalidad at masiguro natin na accurate ang ating resulta (We have standards that should be followed so that we can ensure the quality and accuracy of our results),” she said.

“Nakalagay po iyan sa ating mga guidelines or protocols na kailangan healthcare worker ang gumagawa ng ng ating swabbing, kailangan ng maayos na proseso (It's in our guidelines or protocols that a healthcare worker should do the swabbing, we need a proper process),” she added.