KINAKAILANGAN agad-agad ang mga COVID-19 on-site test kit bilang kritikal na component ng pambansang national health emergency upang ma-contain at masugpo ang paglaganap ng kinahihintakutang virus.
Ito ang ginawang istratehiya ng bansang Russia kaya naging mababa ang mga kaso ng COVID-19 doon. “Test, test, test,” pahayag ng liderato ng Russia.
Maging ang World Health Organization (WHO) ay maliwanag ang deklarasyon dito, na hindi maaaring labanan ang global pandemic na ito nang bulag. Ang ibig sabihin ng WHO ay kinakailangan talagang may mga test kit sa isang bansa.
Ito rin ang ginawang panlaban ng Souith Korea na binaha ang buong bansa ng on-site test kit kaya nagkaroon pa nga roon ng mga drive-through COVID-19 test center.
Ito ang agarang magtutukoy kung ang isang tao o tahanan o komunidad ay positive ba sa COVID-19. Hindi puwedeng hula-hula dahil buhay ng milyon-milyong mga Filipino ang nakasalalay rito.
Kamakailan ay pinauwi ang dalawang pasyente matapos na makuhanan ng test dahil sa may katagalan ang resulta ng sistemang inemploy ng DOH sa ngayon, nang mapagtanto na positive pala ang dalawa ay nakapanghawa na ang mga ito dahil nakauwi na sa kani-kanilang mga tahanan na nasa matataong mga komunidad.
Ang COVID-19 test kit na available kasi ngayon sa merkado ay kinakailangan pang idaan sa laboratoryo kaya bukod sa humihikayat ng clogging ng mga tao sa mga ospital at mga laboratoryo ay may katagalan talaga ang resulta at magkamali lamang ng temperatura ay masisira na ang test kit at hindi na magiging accurate.
Mayroon namang mga on-site COVID-19 test kit katulad ng Wandfo COVID-19 on-site test kit na bukod sa mura ay subok na at ginagamit sa bansang Tsina at sa Europa, at kamakailan nga ay binaha ng naturang test kit ang Espanya upang masiguro ang pagkontrol sa pagkalat ng COVID–19 doon.
Sa isang panawagan kay Undersecretary Rolando Enrique D. Domingo, Director General ng Food and Drug Administration, sinabi ni Nico delos Angeles, local partner ng Hero Pass na siyang distributor ng Wandfo COVID-19 test kit sa Macau, Hong Kong at Filipinas, “I understand our COVID-19 testing kit is not the PCR method but lateral flow method. I also understand that the WHO and DOH only use the PCR method to account for the confirmed cases in the country. However, this does not diminish the need and use of our product. Let me explain further.”
“The Lateral flow method does not require a laboratory to interpret the results and can be deployed at the barangay level as first level screening by conducting it in the homes of the people. It can be deployed as a first line of testing to filter the people and save the PCR tests for those who are already confirmed positive.
“There are arguments that with the lateral flow method you will only test positive on the second or third from the onset of the symptoms. First, you will only complain or seek a doctor when you have symptoms to begin with. Second, since it is simple to do and use I will take the test with my house-hold and if negative. I will not take the test after 2-3 days later to confirm if we are indeed negative. This will at least confirm that we are negative for the time being.
“For first liners, police, military and medical professionals I would take the test once a week because you never know when you were accidentally infected.
“As for the PCR method, although more accurate and what is required for the WHO and DOH. I have concerns on the logistics and implementation,” paliwanag ni Delos Angeles.
“First we only have, 4 labs in the country which will be receiving all the samples. This requires logistics and there is limit as to how much a particular lab can handle.
“Second, the swab must be accurately taken at the right place or you will get a false negative. Not only that, the risk of infection if the patient accidentally sneezes at the medical professional while conducting the test and infecting our already limited medical staff.
“Third, the transport of the PCR tests require 20 degrees or a frozen container or truck. Delivering the PCR in ordinary trucks or containers with our hot weather may affect the efficacy of the testers or may even totally spoil the test together.
“Fourth, decongesting the medical professionals from conducting PCR tests to allow them to treat patients. By letting barangay officials or non medical staff conduct the lateral test first as initial screening it frees up the medical staff to conduct only on confirmed patients,” pahayag ni Delos Angeles.
Huwag na sanang magpatumpik-tumpik pa ang FDA at bigyan na ng exemption ang nasabing COVID-19 test kit agad-agad upang magamit na ng bawat siyudad, munisipyo at barangay at maging ng mga pribado at pampublikong ospital na nangangailangang hindi maging bulag sa labang ito kontra sa global pandemic na dala ng COVID-19.
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