The use of rapid Covid tests is permitted in Laos.

The use of fast Covid-19 tests, which were previously restricted in Laos, is now permitted.

Dr. Phonepadith Sangxayalath, Director General of the Ministry of Health's National Centre for Laboratory and Epidemiology, made the comment during a National Taskforce announcement today.

Many countries throughout the world have approved the use of quick tests, according to Dr. Phonepadith, but Laos has yet to do so due to many known restrictions.

However, the enormous number of cases now being reported in Laos has put a strain on laboratory employees, thus a strategy for using quick tests has been put in place.

“There are numerous advantages to using rapid test kits, including the ability to obtain findings in 15 to 20 minutes without requiring the services of a laboratory. Second, these kits are simple to use,” Dr. Phonepadith explained.

“However, we must be aware of the limits of rapid testing, such as ambiguous test results and the fact that the test must be performed in a temperature of 30 degrees Celsius or lower; if individuals test in the heat, the findings will be unreliable.”

He also noted that proper medical waste disposal was a major concern, and that users of fast test kits must learn how to properly dispose of the kits in order to avoid the virus from spreading further.

According to Dr. Phonepadith, Laos will enable the use of fast tests that have been approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) and are listed on the WHO's Emergency Use List.

He explained that even if these tests come back negative, there's still a chance they're infected, and that a PCR test will be required in many cases.