Doha: Qatar has taken steps to introduce a new diagnostic test, which could quickly detect the Covid-19 virus by testing samples collected from the nasal cavity using swabs.
According to Dr Einas Al-Kuwari, Chairperson, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), an experimental phase of automated antigen tests is being conducted at present and the manual test will be available in the country soon.
“There are number of methods to test and diagnose COVID1-9. First is Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test, which is regarded as the most accurate test, performed by taking a swab from the throat and nose. Second is the serological test for detection of antibodies done by taking blood sample and third is the antigen rapid testing,” she said.
“Antigen tests is a rapid screening performed by taking a swab from the nose and entered into a testing card after adding drops of regulator solution. The test result is available within ten minutes,” said Dr Al Kuwari in a video message.
Covid19 testing methods including Antigen test#YourSafetyIsMySafety pic.twitter.com/zKKYuEBv1Y
— مؤسسة حمد الطبية (@HMC_Qatar) October 5, 2020
“It is normally done on people with symptoms such as high temperature, coughing, etc.
“This test could reveal the infection with high accuracy of about 97 percent within the first week of being infected by the virus,” said Dr Al Kuwari.
She said that automated antigen screening tests is available at HMC as part of an experimental phase.
“In addition to manual rapid antigen testing, there is also automated screening by using specific devices. Currently, we have started the experimental phase of using these devices in collaboration with certain HMC departments. Such devices are available in the patient area. Without the need to send the samples to the laboratory, the patients could quickly receive the results,” said Dr Al Kuwari.
She said that the manual antigen screening method for COVID-19 is assessed and approved and will be available soon in Qatar.
“Healthcare providers shall follow the clinical protocol and use it for cases with symptoms of coronavirus infection,” said Dr Al Kuwari.
The antigen diagnostic tests quickly detect fragments of proteins found on or within the virus by testing samples collected from the nasal cavity using swabs.
The sample is mixed with a solution that breaks the virus open and frees specific viral proteins. The mix is added to a paper strip that contains an antibody tailored to bind to these proteins, if they’re present in the solution. A positive test result can be detected either as a fluorescent glow or as a dark band on the paper strip.
