FAKE TEST KITS. A medical technologist conducts an examination using the Food and Drug Administration-approved test kits on coronavirus disease (Covid-19) at a government hospital in Cebu. Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Secretary Michael Lloyd Dino on Monday (March 23, 2020) warned the public about fake and unapproved test kits offered for sale via social media. (Photo courtesy of OPAV)
CEBU CITY – The Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV) on Monday warned the public about fake and unapproved coronavirus disease (Covid-19) testing kits being offered for sale through social media.
Secretary Michael Lloyd Dino, head of OPAV, said his office has been receiving queries to verify if certain individuals are authorized to sell unapproved test kits online.
In a statement, he said the "Wondfo" SARS-CoV Antibody Test is not an approved Covid-19 test kit based on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved list as of March 20, 2020.
"These testing kits are not point-of-care kits but are intended for laboratory use only," the statement quoted Department of Health (DOH) advisory as saying.
Dino said only the government has acquired testing kits for the coronavirus infection.
"I am appealing to the public to never purchase test kits that are tagged as for Covid-19. The government will take care of purchasing the kits since as of today, only the government has Covid-19 testing capacity," Dino said.
The DOH said there are five sub-national laboratories that are now operating alongside the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM). Among these laboratories include one situated at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center here.
Currently, an additional laboratory is being set up in Western Visayas Medical Center in Iloilo City. A separate laboratory in Eastern Visayas is expected to be up and running soon, the statement said.
The OPAV said FDA is working hard in processing Covid-19 related applications. (PNA)
