DOH-6: No need for repeat tests for healed COVID-19 patients

By Leonard T. Pineda I

The Department of Health Western Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH WV CHD) said the discharge and recovery criteria for suspect, probable, and confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) shall no longer require repeat testing.

In a press briefing, DOH WV CHD Regional Director Dr. Marlyn Convocar said that this guideline is stated in DOH Department Memorandum 2020-0258 or the Updated Interim Guidelines on Expanded Testing for COVID-19.

“Symptomatic patients who have clinically recovered and are no longer symptomatic for at least three days and have completed at least 14 days of isolation either at home or at the temporary treatment and monitoring facility (TTMF), or hospital, can be tagged as a recovered confirmed case and reintegrated to the community without the need for further testing, provided that a licensed medical doctor clears the patient,” Convocar said.

Convocar said patients who tested positive for the Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and remain asymptomatic for at least 14 days can discontinue quarantine and tagged as a recovered confirmed case without the need for further testing, provided that a licensed medical doctor clears the patient.

Meanwhile, Convocar emphasized that rapid antibody-based test kits shall not be used as stand-alone tests to diagnose or rule out COVID-19.

“Because these must be used in conjunction with the RT-PCR, care must be exercised to not duly consume RT-PCR test kits for the sake of confirmation,” she added. (PIA)