Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 12) — Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Wednesday warned that self-administered COVID-19 antigen test may yield false result and lead to contamination.
He reiterated that the Food and Drug Administration has not yet allowed any antigen test kit for home use.
He also noted that use of antigen test kits sold online could mean improper usage, result interpretation, and disposal since there is no guideline on how to use these.
“We just want to appeal to everyone that you cannot be doing this by yourself. How are you going to dispose? This can possibly lead to contamination…You are accountable and responsible for your actions because the FDA’s grant of certificate of product registration comes with the guidelines how to do it,” he said.
“You cannot be doing this by yourself and be cavalier about it. Mamaya gagawin mo, tapos false negative o false positive, ano gagawin mo? (What will you do if the result is either false positive or false negative?)” he added.
Duque warned that there are consequences and advised the public to be careful.
“Don’t order these antigen test kits in the hope you’ll be able to find out if you have the virus or not,” he added.
He urged the public to keep following the minimum public health standards, such as wearing of face masks and getting vaccinated.
The Health chief also said he instructed the FDA to step up efforts to find the sources of test kits being sold online.
“We have to look for the source of the antigen test kits and check them whether it has been granted approval or not. If not, they can be illegal and fake,” he said.
Some Filipinos reportedly resorted to self-administered antigen test despite the absence of FDA’s approval due to the high cost of laboratory-based COVID-19 tests, long lines in testing centers, and delay in the release of results.
The FDA only recently opened the application for self-administered antigen test kits, which will determine in 30 minutes if a person has COVID-19 or not. The DOH will issue guidelines on the proper use of antigen test kits at home on Jan. 17.
