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Covid-19 : Rapid antigen tests to be introduced

27 Oct 2020

  • New testing method to expedite testing process
  • Rapid antigen testing not the solution: Lab technicians
By Maheesha Mudugamuwa As the number of people infected with Covid-19 continues to increase rapidly, steps have being been taken by the Ministry of Health (MoH) to introduce the rapid antigen test for Covid-19 detection in Sri Lanka in order to expedite the testing process of suspected persons by providing the test results within a short period, MoH Deputy Director General of Laboratory Services Dr. Ananda Jayalal said. He told the media that at present, the labs are receiving higher numbers of samples to be tested, and since there is a delay in obtaining test results via PCR testing, the Ministry has decided to introduce a rapid testing mechanism. Dr. Jayalal said the test result could be obtained within 10-15 minutes through a rapid antigen test. “Rapid antigen testing has been approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO),” he added. As learnt by The Morning, approval has been given by the authorities to order the new rapid antigen testing kits, and Sri Lanka is expected to receive 20,000 test kits as the first batch from the WHO in the coming days, while the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC) will continue to order them. Meanwhile, medical laboratory technicians (MLTs) have raised concerns over the Government’s decision to introduce the rapid antigen test instead of the antibody test and serum test. They also alleged that the restrictions that have been put in place by the Government to limit PCR tests and rapid antigen tests were delaying the testing results and that the MLTs should be given the authority to conduct available testing within the laboratories to confirm the Covid-19 virus. Sri Lanka Association of Government Medical Laboratory Technologist (SLGMLT) President Ravi Kumudesh told The Morning that the authorities had not discussed with the MLTs to see the possibilities of using available tests to confirm Covid-19, adding that the implementation of the rapid antigen test was also decided without consulting the MLTs. “The rapid antigen test is not the solution to identify coronavirus. It is the worst test to identify antibodies,” he said, adding that the introduction of the antigen test was also part of a testing racket by several big bug pharmacy companies.  

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