THE Department of Health (DOH) released guidelines regarding the use of home or self-administered antigen test kits.
However, the DOH emphasized that the Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) is still the surest way to determine the virus of COVID-19.
In a memorandum, the DOH said the use of self-administered antigen test kit will only be recommended for symptomatic individuals within seven days from the first onset of symptoms.
It said the antigen test can be used if it will take long or if there will be no results from an RT-PCR test.
The DOH also does not recommend the use of self-test kits for close contacts without symptoms and for testing of individuals without symptoms.
“For other cases not stated above, self-administered antigen testing shall be optional, including for community-level actions wherein case management of probable and confirmed cases remain the same,” according to the DOH.
It said individuals with symptoms, suspect or probable COVID-19 cases and their close contact that tested positive using an antigen test will be considered as positive with the virus.
The DOH said it is mandatory that all who tested positive using an antigen test should report to the Barangay Health Emergency Response Team or to their healthcare provider.
Also, the DOH will leave to the discretion of the local government units and DOH-accredited telemedicine providers the option to create their own reporting system of the results of antigen tests and monitoring of its use to prevent possible abuse.
The agency added that used test kits, swabs, gloves and body fluid will be considered as infectious wastes and should be placed in separate, sturdy and sealed waste bins..