DOH clarifies inaccurate COVID-19 test kits not from China

The Department of Health (DOH) clarified on Sunday that inaccurate COVID-19 test kits mentioned in earlier reports were proposed by a private foundation and not donated by the Chinese government.

The DOH stated that 2,000 BGI RT-PCR test kits and 100,000 Sansure RT-PCR test kits from China meet WHO standards and contain all necessary reagents for testing.

On Saturday, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said some initial test kits from China were discarded due to their low accuracy rate of 40%, but Sansure Biotech's test kits are being used.

The Chinese Embassy also clarified that the inaccurate test kits mentioned by the DOH were neither tested nor donated by them, and they reject any attempts to undermine cooperation with the Philippines in combating the virus.