MANILA – Nilinaw ng Department of Health (DOH) na hindi totoo ang ulat na namahagi ng expired na RT-PCR test kits ang Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) sa lokal na pamahalaan ng Baguio City.
“In response to reports of alleged distribution of expired RT-PCR test kits by RITM to Baguio City, the DOH and RITM clarifies that based on delivery records and recommendations, no expired testing kits were released to any laboratory,” ayon sa ahensya.
Inamin ng Health department na mas maikli ang shelf life ng test kits kumpara sa mga gamot na nagtatagal ng tatlo hanggang limang taon ang pagiging epektibo.
Ang test kits daw kasi ay may shelf life lang na anim na buwan mula sa petsa ng manufacturing.
Dahil dito, ipinaalala ng DOH ang kahalagahan ng agarang paggamit sa mga test kits na natatanggap ng mga local government units, at testing facilities.
“Test kits are fast-moving stock that have to be utilized immediately, considering that shipment and other laboratory processes already take up part of their already short shelf life.”
“Additionally, machine compatibility, technical issues, low testing referral count, and availability of supplies also contribute to low consumption of the COVID-19 test kits which in turn increase likelihood of expiry before use.”
Sa isang interview, sinabi ni Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong na isang pribadong laboratoryo sa kanyang lungsod ang nakatanggap ng umano’y expired testing kits mula RITM.
Gustong pa-imbestigahan ng alkalde ang insidente sa Inter-Agency Task Force dahil baka may iba pang lokal na pamahalaan ang nakatanggap ng sinasabing expired test kits.
Paliwanag ng DOH, mayroong bagong information management system na katuwang ng COVID-19 Laboratory Network Project Management Unit (PMU) para mabantayan ang wastong pag-iimbak ng testing kits.
“The PMU is now developing a more efficient and focused logistics process, while ensuring uninterrupted supply of COVID-19 test kits.”
