The Pros And Cons Of The COVID-19 Rapid Test Proposed By The Government

Illustration (Pixabay)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian government plans to carry out alternative tests to determine whether a patient is positive or not against the corona virus or COVID-19, namely by means of a rapid test. This antibody test is known to have been carried out by several other countries infected with COVID-19.

The government spokesman for handling COVID-19, Achmad Yurianto explained, the corona virus rapid test uses a blood specimen test (serum taken from blood). This is in contrast to the swab test which is currently performed using a throat swab.

The benefits that will be obtained if you use a rapid test, said Yurianto, the examination does not need to be carried out in a laboratory with strict criteria such as special training for laboratory workers and restrictions on access.

"This rapid test does not require laboratory examination facilities at level 2 bio security. This means that it can be carried out in almost all health laboratories in hospitals in Indonesia," Yuri said in a press conference at the BNPB Building, East Jakarta, which was broadcast via the channel. YouTube, Wednesday, March 18.

The problem, he said, was that a positive corona result based on a rapid test could only be known when someone being tested had been positive for one week. Therefore, the examination is based on the patient's immunoglobulin reaction.

"If (someone) has not been infected or infected for less than a week, it will likely give a negative picture," said Yuri.

Separately, the Special Staff of the Minister of BUMN for Communication, Arya Sinulingga, said that the equipment used for the rapid test was purchased by BUMN PT Rajawali Nusantara Indonesia (RNI), imported from China.

The convenience, he said, is that its use is similar to a pregnancy test. That way, someone's positive and negative results for corona virus infection can be fast from a swab test.

"The results of the corona rapid test can only take a few minutes. (Minimum) 15 minutes, maximum 3 hours," said Arya to reporters.

The number of rapid test kits to be purchased is 500 thousand. BUMN, said Arya, has applied for a shipping registration permit to the Ministry of Health. In the next few days, the equipment will be delivered and distributed to the hospital.

However, he said, distribution to hospitals for the sick was not free. It's just that, the price is not more expensive than the tests that have been carried out so far.

"The rapid test is cheaper than others," he said.