Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 20) — The coronavirus testing kits developed by the University of the Philippines National Institutes of Health have been recalled by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) after “minor problems” were found, a health official said.
Department of Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire revealed in an online media briefing on Wednesday that minor issues were detected with the test kits after a series of validation from the RITM.
“During the time it was validated, may nakitang kaunting problema yung testing kits based on the evaluation done by our national reference laboratory,” Vergeire said.
[Translation: During the validation, there were minor problems that were seen with the testing kits based on the evaluation done by our national reference laboratory.]
READ: What you need to know about the UP-developed coronavirus test kits
She added that UP experts are now looking into the problem.
“Ibinalik sa kanila ‘yong resulta ng evaluation at sila ay aminado na may problema ang kanilang kits very minor lang naman,” Vergeire said.
[Translation: The results of the evaluation were given back to them and they admitted that their test kits have a very minor problem.]
The distribution of the said COVID-19 test kits has been put on hold, waiting for another validation by the RITM.
CNN Philippines correspondent Tristan Nodalo contributed to this report.
