The Philippine Red Cross warned the public against the sale of self-administered saliva RT-PCR test kits.
The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) on Sunday warned the public against the sale of self-administered saliva RT-PCR test kits, saying that the Philippine government has yet to approve its use.
Philippine Red Cross Chairman Senator Richard Gordon lamented that there were individuals who were trying to weaken the Philippine government’s efforts to fight COVID-19 by “selling” saliva RT-PCR test kits.
In an interview on TeleRadyo, Gordon said that there were unprincipled people who were “selling” saliva RT-PCR test kits, adding that it was prohibited by the Department of Health and the Food and Drug Administration.
“Ito ay sinasabing self-administered test kits, pero walang permiso sa gobyerno yan. Ingat kayo baka walang bisa yan. Masasabi kong walang bisa yan dahil bago kami pinayagan ng gobyerno dumaan kami sa butas ng karayom, kinuha namin ang technology sa University of Illinois,” Gordon said.
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Dr. Paulyn Ubial, who headed PRC’s Molecular Laboratory, said in the same interview that those antigen tests that failed to secure registration and certification from the Food and Drug Administration were likely fake.
Gordon then reminded that it was only the Philippine Red Cross that was allowed to conduct the saliva RT-PCR tests.
The Philippine Red Cross officially launched its saliva reverse transcription – polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test in late January 2021.
According to Gordon, the Philippine Red Cross had tested a total of 9, 650 individuals so far, adding that they’re expected to step up and expand its saliva RT-PCR testing services this week.
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