UP COVID-19 test kits sent for field testing

Health authorities plan to send hundreds of locally-developed COVID-19 test kits to hospitals for field testing starting Friday.

The University of the Philippines-National Institute of Health (UP-NIH) developed these kits, which can perform 1,000 tests per week and cost less than P1,500 each compared to imported ones costing up to P30,000.

Field tests will run for two to three weeks to assess the technology's behavior in real-world settings.

Former Health Secretary Janette Garin warns against mass purchasing of these kits without FDA evaluation due to concerns over accuracy and potential false results.