Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony says 20,000 rapid antigen tests ordered for selective hinterland regions will increase the testing capacity in those areas.
During a COVID-19 Update with the Department of Public Information (DPI) on Wednesday, Dr. Anthony said that although the testing capacity at the National Public Health Reference Laboratory in Region Four increased with Government’s acquisition of a $7.2 million automated extractor, regional testing in remote areas still takes time.
“We have placed an order for 20,000 [antigen] tests and hopefully by November, we will be able to get those tests and deploy to interior areas”, the Minister told DPI
Anthony said because this test is faster, it may be more practical for use in remote hinterland areas.
“This is not the RTPCR tests that we take samples of and bring them to the lab. This antigen test is one where right at the site where you’re seeing the patient if you suspect them to have COVID, you can run the test there and within 45 minutes get back the results.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, the COVID-19 antigen test “detects certain proteins in the virus. Using a nasal or throat swab to get a fluid sample, antigen tests can produce results in minutes. Because these tests are faster and less expensive than PCR tests, antigen tests may be more practical to use for large numbers of people. A positive antigen test result is considered very accurate, but there’s an increased chance of false-negative results — meaning it’s possible to be infected with the virus but have a negative result. Depending on the situation, the doctor may recommend a PCR test to confirm a negative antigen test result”.
