By John Clifford Lintao
THE Department of Health (DOH) hinted at dropping the use of rapid antibody testing for screening people for COVID-19.
However, the DOH is not bent on proposing a total ban on it as it can still be used for recovering COVID-19 patients. It added that the rapid antibody testing should just be used appropriately for it to be effective.
Asked on how it could be used effectively, Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire said that it can be useful in determining whether or not COVID-19 patients have recovered from the deadly respiratory disease.
“Hindi naman kailangan i-ban kasi may gamit pa rin naman siya dito sa ating response,” she told reporters in an online press briefing.
“Pwedeng gamiting ang rapid test doon sa mga pasyente na nakarecover na o pwede na ma-tag as recovered,” she added.
Vergeire admitted rapid antibody test kits should can only detect antibodies in the body and not the coronavirus itself.