BPOM Gorontalo Now Able To Quickly Detect Omicron Variants

An officer tests a COVID-19 specimen at the Gorontalo Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) laboratory in Bone Bolango Regency/ANTARA/Adiwinata Solihin

GORONTALO - The Gorontalo Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) laboratory is now able to detect the Omicron variant of COVID-19. Previously, samples of probable COVID-19 had to be sent to Jakarta or Manado.

"We have 'upgraded' our laboratory to be able to test the Omicron variant," said Head of BPOM Gorontalo, Agus Yudi Prayudana, quoted by Antara, Thursday, February 10.

He explained, since February 9, 2022, BPOM Gorontalo has carried out structured validation by trying to make various modifications to the test method.

"Thank God we succeeded in detecting the Omicron variant," he said.

Agus said his party had tested several positive COVID-19 samples using the SGTF method.

"Using this method, we tested whether this sample was an Omicron variant or not, and after testing several samples, and indeed a probable Omicron variant was detected," he explained.

According to Agus, it is called a probable or possible Omicron variant because to confirm it, it must use the Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) methodology with sequencing.

"However, this method takes up to 3-5 days, and is expensive because it must be sequenced first, while the SGTF method can be carried out for a maximum of two hours," he explained.

Previously, to determine the results of the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 examination or not, the Gorontalo Provincial Government sent samples to the Ministry of Health or to BTKL Manado.