The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) said on Monday that the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) found no evidence of contamination in the 48 COVID-19 tests processed at the PRC’s Subic laboratory.
In a statement, the PRC explained the RITM completed its investigation, which revealed that the 48 cases tested were found to be valid and reliable.
The RITM last month was looking into an incident in Subic where some hospital personnel tested positive for the virus, but a retest three days later had negative results.
Some 49 health personnel initially tested positive for COVID-19 on September 3, based on the test conducted by a laboratory of the PRC, according to Deputy Speaker and SAGIP party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta.
However, after having a second test in a different laboratory, 44 of them tested negative.
Soon after, the PRC issued a statement, saying the test methodology and procedures were standardized in all its laboratories which were given a 100 percent rating when subjected to RITM proficiency tests.
The PRC also noted that it immediately conducted test re-runs at its own cost due to the unusually high positive results, but the output remained the same.
The Red Cross said the timing of tests done relative to exposure was a factor that could produce different results, thus, re-tests done in a different laboratory from samples taken three days after the first test could “very well produce negative results since the clients could already be negative by the time the second samples were taken.”
“The PRC has found itself a victim of unsubstantiated allegations in recent months. This is due to damning evidence against involved parties in the awarding of more than P8.7 billion in contracts for overpriced medical supplies to an undercapitalized company under the Bayanihan to Heal Act,” it said.