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Having influenza will not give positive RT-PCR result
By J.Lo
“It did not fail…this test was not unreliable…the only reason they are removing it is because they have better tests and there are other tests that they want to focus on,” Department of Health technical advisory group member Dr. Edsel Salvana said. debunked rumors that having influenza will cause one to get positive RT-PCR test result.
Such talk apparently started to circulate after US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued advisory regarding its decision to retire the use of CDC 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Real-Time RT-PCR Diagnostic Panel after December 31, 2021.
The advisory was originally issued on July 21, 2021, but recent news articles misinterpreted the reason why it was retired, with some alleging test confuses COVID-19 virus with influenza, thus giving false positive result.
According to Salvana, this was misinterpreted, saying CDC retired the old RT-PCR test because there were new and better tests available.
” It’s not true that the influenza can give you a positive COVID-19 test. That is fake news.”
Salvana further explained that CDC only retired one brand, and it remained valid despite its retirement.
“There is no truth to the rumor that influenza will cause positive COVID-19 test. They removed the test because they are replacing it with different test, and it does not invalidate any PCR tests for COVID-19,” he said.
” It is impossible for influenza to cause a positive COVID-19 test because it does not have the correct genetic material to make the test positive.”
Salvana said all RT-PCR tests used in the Philippines were reliable and would not confuse COVID-19 with common flu.
“And we can be assured po that our RT-PCRs are reliable and they will not confuse COVID-19 with the flu,” he said.
The Philippines on Tuesday reported 5,434 fresh COVID-19 cases, the highest since Oct. 23.
The country has been classified as high risk for COVID-19 following the sharp rise in new cases.
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