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LIST: Approved COVID Test Kit Brands in the Philippines You Should Know
Here’s your handy list of approved COVID test kit brands in the Philippines!
By: Mira Maestrecampo | July 25, 2022
The advantage of COVID test kits is that anyone can administer them, which is why it is mostly in demand in workplaces and for use at home.
Image: Unsplash
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the Philippines has approved the commercial and home use of COVID test kits since January 2022, with the list continuously updated. With this, individuals can at least ease their worries whenever they experience COVID symptoms since they can administer the test themselves using registered COVID test kits approved by the FDA.
The Department of Health also tirelessly advises the public that the virus still exists. Even a typical Filipino must always check his health and get himself tested for many purposes, for work requirements, personal health reasons, concerns for the household, and to ensure safety whenever he experiences symptoms at home or whenever.
COVID test kits, especially the self-administered types, improve to become more accessible and convenient for everyone as well, making them cost-efficient since swabbing services from medical facilities come at a costly price. Home COVID antigen test kits are becoming necessary for some, especially for companies, workplace establishments, and frequent travelers.
According to experts, a COVID testing kit may work best for those individuals already experiencing symptoms of COVID, and it is most likely accurate in its results. A negative result, however, can be confirmed and tested again through an RT-PCR test to make sure if an individual has contracted the virus or not.
As of June 23, the FDA approved the following antibody rapid test kit brands in the Philippines for self-administered purposes and commercial uses, along with the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine’s recommendation:
1. SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Test (Immunochromatography) Self-test kit
Result Sensitivity: 97%
Where to Buy: Abbexa website, online medical shopping websites
Price: PhP6,125.24
2. Panbio™️ COVID-19 Antigen Self-Test (Ref. 41 FK51 / Ref. 41 FK71 / Ref. 41FK81 / Ref. 41FK91) manufactured by Abbott Rapid Diagnostics, distributed by Sunfu Solutions Inc., Allied Hospital Supply International Corporation, and Macrohealth Inc.
Result Sensitivity: 83%
Where to Buy: Watsons, Fevermates website, Amazon, Levitt Safety website, Abbott website, authorized pharmacies
Price Range: PhP2,788.54 to PhP4,731
3. One-step test for Sars-Cov-2 Antigen (Colloidal Gold) (Self-test kit)
Result Sensitivity: 96%
Where to Buy: International medical shopping sites, authorized pharmacies
Price Range: PhP167.80 to PhP12,112.45
4. JusChek COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test Cassette (Oral Fluid) (Self-Test) manufactured by Hangzhou All test Biotech Co., Ltd and distributed by AJ Research & Pharma Inc. and UC BIOSCIENCES Inc.
Result Sensitivity: 90%
Where to Buy: Authorized medical websites, authorized pharmacies
Price Range: PhP2,814.03 to PhP44,787.92
5. SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Self-Test Nasal
Result Sensitivity: 88%
Where to Buy: Authorized medical websites, authorized pharmacies
Price Range: PhP1,684.57 to PhP11,266.60
6. SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Test (Immunochromatography) Self-test kit manufactured by Labnovation Technologies, Inc. and distributed by Murex Diagnostic Products Specialists and Sparti Logistics Corporation
Result Sensitivity: 95.45% to 97.45%
Where to Buy: Watsons, authorized medical websites, authorized and licensed pharmacies
Price: PhP349
7. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Antigen Detection Kit (Colloidal Gold-Based) (Self-test kit) manufactured by Nanjing Vazyme Medical Technology Co., Ltd., distributed in the Philippines by Sparti Logistics Corporation, Gregan 101 Corporation, Pinnacle Supplies & Services Unlimited Inc, and Grand Premiere International Trading Incorporated
Result Sensitivity: 96.25%
Where to Buy: Authorized medical websites, authorized pharmacies
Price: PhP349 to PhP960
8. Flowflex COVID-19 Antigen Home Test (SELF-TESTING) manufactured by ACON Biotech (Hangzhou) Co., Ltd. and ACON Laboratories Inc., and distributed by BIOSITE MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS and Deel Corporation,
Result Sensitivity: 91.20%
Where to Buy: Authorized medical websites, authorized pharmacies
Price: PhP272 to PhP5,383.11
9. CTK OnSite COVID-19 Ag Self-Test
Result Sensitivity: 96.70% result sensitivity
Where to Buy: Authorized medical websites, authorized pharmacies
Price Range: PhP552.13 to PhP12,394.80
10. COVID-19 Antigen Test Kit (Oral Fluid) ICOV-802H (Self-test kit)
Result Sensitivity: 90% result sensitivity
Where to Buy: Authorized medical websites, authorized pharmacies
Price: PhP507 to PhP16,225.92
11. 2019-nCoV Ag Test (Latex Chromatography Assay) (Self-test kit)
Result Sensitivity: 97.10%
Where to Buy: Authorized medical websites, authorized pharmacies
Price: PhP350 to PhP960
Tips on administering COVID self-test kits
● Administering COVID self-test kits should be done under these circumstances: upon experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms or if you are experiencing any flu-like symptoms, upon exposure to someone positive with COVID-19, or before and after attending a mass gathering or an event.
● Each test kit varies depending on the variant or brand. Before using the self-administered approved test kit brands, one should thoroughly read the manufacturer’s instructions that come with the COVID test kit or pack to get the most accurate result. If one does not do so, the result may appear incorrect.
● Also, ensure to sanitize and wash your hands before and after taking the test.
● Given that the test result is positive, an individual should be isolated and stay home for at least five days. When interacting with others, that individual should wear a tight-fitting mask or an N95 respirator. He should also inform his recent close contacts about the result.
● On the other hand, if the result comes out negative, it is best to administer the test multiple times, 24 to 48 hours after. When one tries to make sure by taking various tests, it may increase the confidence in knowing an individual has not contracted the virus.
Note that the above list of approved COVID test kit brands in the Philippines and prices may be updated from time to time, so it is best to check with legitimate websites and purchase only from authorized pharmacies and drugstores in your area.
Visit Yoorekka Magazine for more COVID-19 updates and guidelines in Iloilo and Boracay, Philippines!
All details and information in this article are true and accurate as of the publication date. However, while we are making our utmost effort to keep our content as up-to-date as possible, the condition surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic continues to be unpredictable, and the situation is developing rapidly. Hence, some information and recommendations may have changed since this article was published. For the latest advice, visit DOH and your LGU's official websites.
Sources:
[1] https://bit.ly/3zsDTtZ
[2] https://bit.ly/3zrUduW
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About Mira Maestrecampo
Mira - with a long surname - is a girl who dreams of becoming a news anchor someday, in God's perfect time. She loves to read books and eat different kinds of cheesy or saucy food. A coffee addict and a dog lover, she loves long hugs, hot coffee on an afternoon break with friends, or simply sleeping all day with her stuffed unicorns.
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