11 antigen producers seek FDA approval

A total 11 manufacturers of self-administered antigen test kits have applied to the Food and Drug Administration for approval, the Department of Health said.

Health Undersecretary Maria Roasrio Vergeire said the FDA would evaluate the antigen test kits before sending these to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine for performance validation.

The Department of Trade and Industry is supporting the granting of special emergency use authorization to antigen manufacturers to facilitate the commercial sales of the home-based test kits.