ARMED Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Jose Faustino Jr., tested positive for infection in an antigen test, AFP spokesperson Colonel Ramon Zagala said on Monday, August 23, 2021.

Zagala said Faustino and other military officials underwent antigen testing prior to a meeting and a virtual conference with the members of the Defense press corps.

Faustino underwent a confirmatory reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test for Sars-CoV-2 and went into isolation while waiting for the result.

Zagala said contact tracing is ongoing.

A rapid antigen test merely detects antibodies that indicate whether the subject is fighting or has fought off an infection, not necessarily coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

An RT-PCR test, on the other hand, detects Sars-CoV-2. Unless the subject of the test is a close contact of a confirmed Covid-19 case, a confirmatory RT-PCR test is needed after a positive antigen test result. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)