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COVID-19 Update: IATF approves antigen testing for domestic travelers

Aniela Bautista
Sep 28, 2020
1 min read

SWAB TEST. A medical frontliner conducts swab tests on possible patients of COVID-19 in a gymnasium in Navotas City. © Tingson

Last September 18, 2020, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) approved the use of antigen tests as a substitute for the polymerise chain reaction (PCR) swab tests.

According to IATF resolution No. 72, the said test will be used in testing domestic travelers who are coming from high risk that will travel to low risk places.

Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a public briefing last Sept. 19 that before using the rapid antigen tests, there will be first a pilot study in one city.

“Magkakaroon po tayo ng pilot study dito po sa isang city sa ating bansa para makita po nating kung talagang puwede ho nating gamitin itong antigen test,” Vergeire said.

Vergeire added that the antigen test is more recommended than the rapid antibody test since if someone will test positive in the said test, it is more likely for that person to be COVID-19 positive.

Before the antigen test will be used, it has to first show an at least 80% sensitivity and 97% specificity.

Despite the rapid antigen test being more recommended and accurate than the rapid antibody test, PCR tests remain as the gold standard in COVID-19 testing.