DOH clears backlogs in COVID-19 test results

“Yes (cleared na ang backlogs sa COVID-19  test results)… Ito pa naman po ay nagsa-submit sila sa atin ng mga kanilang line list,” Vergeire said.

(Yes, we have cleared the backlogs in COVID-19 results. They are submitting their line list to us.)

“Nagkaroon po ulit ng paalala ang kagawaran na kailangan ng mga laboratoryo magbigay nang direkta sa mga individual ng kanilang mga resulta at saka sa mga local government units po,” she added.

(The department once again reminded that laboratories need to provide their results directly to individuals as well as to local government units.)

In a statement over the weekend, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) said their laboratories would start immediately informing individuals who tested positive for COVID-19.

Also read: Red Cross PH blames DOH for COVID-19 surge

DOH clears backlogs in COVID-19 test results

Last week, PRC volunteered to assist the government in releasing results to patients who would test positive for the disease. It added at least one-third of the over 15,700 patients since July 30 have not yet been informed of their results, which could have caused the spread of COVID-19 in communities.

Red Cross would start releasing the positive results to patients in its facilities after getting the approval of DOH.

Vergeire, meanwhile, stressed that there are no backlogs in the validation process since DOH’s data management unit has been checking the COVID-19 cases information immediately.

“This is a quick action surveillance unit, kung saan nagkaroon na kami ng malawakang paglilinis ng datos,” she said.

(This is a quick action surveillance unit, where we already have a comprehensive data cleanup.)

“So hindi na tayo nagkakaroon ng validation backlogs. Every time the laboratories send us the list, nalilinis ho natin ‘yan within 24 hours,” Vergeire added.

(So we no longer have validation backlogs. Every time the laboratories send us the list, we clean it within 24 hours.)