Biniling test kits na may ‘six-month shelf life’ dinepensahan ng DOH

Manila, Philippines — Nilinaw na ang binili ng gobyerno na RT-PCR test kits for COVID-19 na may ‘six-month shelf life’ ay hindi pa malapit sa expiration, ayon sa Department of Health (DOH).

 “The COVID-19 RT-PCR test kits with six months shelf life are not near expiry, as that was the standard shelf life of those novel diagnostic test kits at the time. Additionally, test kits are fast-moving stocks that have to be used immediately since we are in a pandemic. Our COVID-19 laboratories were able to test our kababayan (countrymen) using these procured test kits,” ani Atty. Charade Mercado-Grande, Undersecretary ng Health Regulation Team ng DOH.

Nag-ugat ang pahayag nang sabihin ni Senator Francis Pangilinan na ang inspection report na may pirma ng PS-DBM kung saan nakasaad na ang mga biniling test kits ay mayroon lamang six-month shelf life sa kabila ng requirement na 24 hanggang 36 buwan mula sa date ng delivery.

“Back then, real-time RT-PCR test kits that were available in the market had a shelf life of only six months. This was due to manufacturers having no data on whether their test kits would be stable and useful beyond six months,” paliwanag pa rito.

“The DOH acknowledged that these products have a short shelf-life and accepted the deliveries with this limitation. The deliveries of test kits were then requested on a staggered basis dependent on the consumption of the country.”

Tiniyak naman ng DOH na kanila lamang binili ang test kit na may standard ng World Health Organization at nakapasa sa RITM evaluation. RNT/FGDC

Biniling test kits na may ‘six-month shelf life’ dinepensahan ng DOH
Source: Filipino Pinoys