QC, Project Ark partner for COVID-19 rapid testing

The Quezon City government has partnered with Project Ark, a private sector initiative, to enhance its rapid testing efforts for COVID-19 in select barangays.

Mayor Joy Belmonte announced the receipt of 3,800 rapid diagnostic test (RDT) kits from Project Ark to screen residents in identified barangays.

Pilot testing was conducted on 1,500 residents in four barangays: Immaculate Concepcion, Kristong Hari, Kalugusan, and Dona Aurora, which were chosen due to their population, active cases, attack rate, and proximity to hospitals.

These pilot areas were also noted to have a high concentration of health workers, who comprise 25% of all COVID-19 positive patients in Quezon City.

In the pilot testing, 0.33 percent tested positive for IgM antibodies and 87 percent for IgG antibodies.

Individuals testing positive for IgM are subjected to confirmatory PCR testing and isolated in HOPE facilities while awaiting results.

Residents testing positive for IgG antibodies are still advised to strictly adhere to health protocols, as they might not be entirely immune to the virus.

Testing using 4,000 RDT kits is also underway in 11 areas under special concern lockdown across five barangays.

As of May 22, 1,419 rapid tests were conducted in these lockdown areas, with 5.99 percent testing positive for IgM.

Symptomatic individuals who tested negative for antibodies are also undergoing swabbing for PCR testing, emphasizing PCR testing's role as the gold standard for accurate COVID-19 detection.