DOH: Investigation result on ‘false positives’ of PRC out by Oct. 8

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MANILA – The probe on the Philippine Red Cross (PRC)-Subic chapter’s “false positives” Covid-19 tests will be completed by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) on October 8.

Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III said during President Rodrigo Duterte’s pre-recorded Talk to the People aired Monday night that a preliminary probe revealed that all 49 hospital workers tested positive in swab tests processed by the PRC’s molecular laboratory in Subic.

“That was released on September 3, 2020,” he said, noting that the results turned “false positives” after the 49 personnel were retested in another facility on Sept. 6.

Only five of the 49 people tested positive in the confirmatory test, according to Duque.

He stated the RITM’s probe was divided into four phases and entailed highly technical procedures.

Among the steps are the review of the PRC’s previous laboratory records and its compliance to the testing protocols; review of case investigation reports and verifying relevant clinical/epidemiological information; remote verification of measures and procedures; and the troubleshooting/proficiency test panel to all concerned laboratories.

“By October 8, lalabas po ang resulta ng investigation at aking pong ibabahagi sa inyo (the result of the investigation will be out by October 8 and I will share it to you),” Duque said.

Duterte had earlier requested that the DOH investigate the “false positive” cases.

Duque responded swiftly, stating that the RITM and the DOH had previously investigated the issue.

“It is good that there is an independent investigating agency. Well, if there’s nothing wrong, we can accept that. But if there is something wrong then the chairman of the Red Cross has to answer for it,” Duterte said.

PRC Chairman Senator Richard Gordon, according to Duterte, “should have done his supervision job properly.”

“In the absence of supervised examinations in your agency at hindi ninyo nagawa iyan (and you did not do that). I think that Gordon has to answer for that also,” he said.

House committees to hold hearings during break

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Spread the loveMANILA – The House of Representatives has authorized for its committees to conduct hearings during the five-week congressional break, extending until late April.

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