The Department of Health revealed on Saturday that some coronavirus disease or COVID-19 test kits donated by China to the Philippines are only 40% accurate based on the standards set by the World Health Organization.
“Sa mga naunang pinadala samin na test kits from China, na nakapagpakita ng 40 percent accuracy, hindi po namin ito ginamit dahil nakita nga po na mababa po ang accuracy natin dito. Kaya ito na lang po ay atin itinago,” DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Verg
eire said in a press briefing.
Vergeire added that the health department is doing parallel testing for both the Chinese and WHO test kits to ensure that the results are accurate.
Test kits donated by other countries or groups have passed the WHO standards according to the health official.
“Makakasiguro po ang ating mga kababayan na atin pong vina-validate pa ho ang ating mga donasyon na test kits bago ito gamitin. Makikita po natin dito kung ano ang of-quality at kung ano naman po ang mababa ang kalidad at di dapat gamitin para sa ating mga kababayan,” she added.
Spain previously revealed that the test kits provided by a Chinese company turned up to be defective and gave false results on suspected COVID-19 cases.
The country has confirmed 1,075 COVID-19 cases, and the death toll is now at 68.
