DOST-UP developed PCR Test Kits to be available by this Weekend

Approval and availability of the 120,000 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Test Kits developed by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the University of the Philippines-National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH) for the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) outbreak is expected to be made no later than this weekend.

26,000 Kits are going to distributed to some Hospitals while 94,000 will be sold commercially at Php 1,300 each.

SOURCE: 120,000 UP-developed COVID-19 Test Kits available starting this Weekend —DOST

Check out my Links: https://linktr.ee/rhk111

Nomura projects 1.6-3% GDP Growth only for the Philippines because of the Luzon Quarantine

Another Financial Services company, this time the Japanese company Nomura has released their prediction of the Philippines’ Gross Domestic Product (GDP) this year which they project to be only 1.6-3%, very far from the Government’s target of 6.5-7.5%.

This low growth is because of the Quarantine of Luzon to contain the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) outbreak. Nomura warns that if the Quarantine is extended by another month, the GDP could in fact contract by -1.9%.

The expected low GDP growth figures of the Country is likely to have some negative consequences for the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

SOURCE: COVID-19, Luzon lockdown seen to pull GDP growth down to lowest level since 2009

Check out my Links: https://linktr.ee/rhk111

DOH clarifies Statements made by Vergeire about the Covid-19 Test Kits donated by China

The Department of Health (DOH) has issued a clarification on their official Facebook page on the statements made by Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire during a Press Briefing last March 28, 2020:

* First is that they confirm that all of 102,000 Corona Virus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) Test Kits that China donated were the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) type.

* Second they said that low accuracy Test Kits mentioned by Vergeire actually referred to another brand of Test Kits that were being donated by a Private Donor.

* Third is that the DOH confirmed that the China donated PCR Kits were at par with Test Kits provided by the World Health Organization (WHO).

***********************
Remember that the low accuracy Test Kits from China were the Antibody Kits, not the PCR Kits which are the same ones that Jack Ma is donating also (https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/29/20/covid-19-test-kits-donated-by-jack-ma-to-undergo-validation-first-expert).

I’m not really satisfied about the DOH’s explanation because for one, I can’t understand why a Doctor and a high official in the DOH like Vergeire could not distinguish between an Antibody and a PCR Test Kit.

Was she really that clueless, or just misinformed? The damage had already been done when she made that statement, and it is worsened by the fact that she herself was not the one who made the clarification.

The DOH has been under fire a lot these days due to their perceived poor handling of the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak, and that perception is not helped by events such as these.

SOURCES:
* Official Department of Health Philippines Facebook Page Post, March , 2020 - 1359H
* COVID-19 Test Kits donated by Jack Ma to undergo validation first: Expert

Check out my Links: https://linktr.ee/rhk111

Covid-19 Test Kit from China Issue

There are some confusion going on right now about the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) Test Kits that are coming from China, so let me try to show what is happening:

* On May 28, 2020, Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that the initial Test Kits donated by China were only 40% accurate and were not being used. Here exact words were, “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 (The first test kits sent to us by China, that showed only 40 percent accuracy, we did not use because the accuracy rate is low. That's why we only stored them)”.

* Vergeire did not give additional details about the Test Kits, but the Adult Infectious Diseases Chief of the San Lazaro Hospital, Dr. Rontgene Solante said that the known Test Kits from China that had only 40% accuracy were the ANTIBODY TEST KITS (ATK).

* However, Journalist Sissi Wang clarified that the 2,000 and 100,000 Test Kits donated by China were NOT ATKs but in fact POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION (PCR) Kits.

* PCR Kits are more accurate because unlike the ATKs, they require a Machine in a Laboratory to process its test and release the results. PCR Kits are also similar to the ones that Jack Ma donated (he donated 57,600 Kits).

* All the PCR Kits donated by China were made by BGI and Sansure Biotech. The Sansure Biotech Kits have already been approved by the Philippines Food and Drug Agency (FDA) for Commercial use.

* If this is the case, then why did Under Secretary Vergeire made it appear that China donated ATKs? Was she misinformed? Did she just make a mistake? Her statements were picked up and featured by a LOT of the local Press, I think she should address this issue As Soon As Possible (ASAP).

SOURCES:
* Some Test Kits sent from China only 40 percent accurate: DOH
* Sissi Wang Facebook Account Post, March 29, 2020 - 1054H
* COVID-19 Test Kits donated by Jack Ma to undergo validation first: Expert

Check out my Links: https://linktr.ee/rhk111