DMS clarifies COVID-19 antigen test policy

[webfact]

 

By Tanakorn Sangiam

   

BANGKOK (NNT) - The Ministry of Public Health has adjusted its policy to adopt more antigen tests for COVID-19 in hospital settings to ease the load of labs running more complex RT-PCR method. Health officials are also discussing the possibility of providing rapid test kits to the general public for self-tests at home.

 

With reports of people lining up overnight to get COVID-19 tests at hospitals or testing venues which have a limited daily test capacity, health officials are now looking into the use of less complex antigen test kits in initial screenings, in order to lessen the workload at labs performing the gold standard RT-PCR tests.

 

The Department of Medical Sciences (DMS) Director General Dr Supakit Sirilak, revealed there are now 24 brands of antigen test kit for SARS-CoV-2 approved for use by Thailand’s Food and Drugs Administration, adding that each has a varying level of accuracy and specimen collection method for either a nose or throat swab, however all of these antigen test kits are intended for use in hospital settings.

 

The DMS Chief said the test kits can be used if needed, as they take less time to provide a result when compared to the gold-standard RT-PCR method. However, people who test positive using these kits should take an RT-PCR test to confirm the result.

 

Meanwhile, some people test negative even with the virus in their system using these test kits, due to the threshold of viral load it takes for the kits to provide a positive result.

 

Around 300 labs and healthcare providers across the country will be allowed to offer antigen tests for COVID-19 to their clients. No at-home tests are allowed at this time. The National Health Security Office will be providing compensation of 450-600 baht for each eligible antigen test.

 

Dr Supakit also added there are currently no reports of any COVID-19 cases with the Lambda variant in Thailand.

 

He said the WHO-designated variant of interest was first identified in Peru, and is currently spreading mainly in South Africa.

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2021-07-09

 

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[DrJack54]

Lambda, sort of cute name. Can't be too scary.

[ThailandRyan]

Even using the aforementioned tests, there are not enough beds.  Watching the news now on channel 3 and they are just loading positive patient after positive patients into regular vans to send them to a facility as they are positive and need treatment, the ambulances can not keep up.  This is a serious issue that this Government said they could handle, apparently not.

[berrec]

Difference between RT-PCR test, Rapid antigen test and antibody test

 

https://covid.gov.cz/en/situations/infection-and-general-measures/difference-between-rt-pcr-test-rapid-antigen-test-and

 

Maybe more about costs then effective testing.