IATF directs DOH to finalize rapid test kit guidelines

The Department of Health (DOH) has been directed by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) to finalize guidelines for the use of rapid antibody test kits approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

This directive from the IATF follows President Duterte's order to purchase rapid test kits to enhance the country's COVID-19 testing capacity.

Malacañang has confirmed that individuals seeking audience with the President will be required to undergo rapid testing and will be denied entry if they test positive.

The government plans to purchase at least 900,000 additional polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based tests to confirm the accuracy of rapid test results.

Previously, the DOH expressed reservations about the accuracy of rapid test kits, citing the possibility of false results.

The IATF has also adopted an updated nomenclature for classifying individuals in the surveillance and management of the COVID-19 pandemic, renaming Patients Under Investigation (PUI) with pending results as 'suspect' cases and those with inconclusive results as 'probable' cases.