The Food and Drug Administration on Monday said it authorized the sale of two brands of self-test antigen kits, making available a reliable and accessible means to detect COVID-19 in Filipino households.
The two brands are Abbott's Panbio and Labnovation Technologies' SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Test Kit, FDA Officer-in-Charge Oscar Gutierrez said.
Abbott Panbio will retail per kit and will also be available in boxes of four, ten, and 20 kits inside, while Labnovation Technologies can be bought in two, five, and 20 tests per box.
“'Yung dalawa, madarag-dagan pa. Meron pang 31 na nasa performance validation ng RITM (Research Institute for Tropical Medicine). Aabangan natin ‘yung iba pang ma-aapprubahan,” Gutierrez told President Rodrigo Duterte in his weekly "Talk to the People" address aired Monday.
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The FDA said the "special certification" it granted opens doors to another legitimate category for COVID antigen testing other than the one done by health professionals.
These approved at-home test kits, when used the right way, makes possible the quick detection of COVID-19.
Gutierrez reminded the public to buy only test kits they certified to ensure accuracy of results. He also urged consumers to buy them in licensed drug outlets and to be mindful of expiration dates, as well as carefully follow instructions found in these kits.
“Importante po talaga na dumaan sa performance validation ng RITM. Kasi po kung mababa po ang sensitivity ay marami pong false negative po na mangyayari,” he said.
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