Garin: RT-PCR test still gold standard for COVID-19

Lawmaker Janette Garin cautioned against using rapid antigen tests as the primary method for detecting COVID-19 in the NCR Plus area.

Garin emphasized that rapid antigen tests are mainly used for symptomatic patients and have a false negative rate of about 40 percent, making RT-PCR testing essential for asymptomatic individuals who test negative with antigen tests.

She stressed that RT-PCR remains the gold standard for COVID-19 testing despite the speed advantage of antigen tests.