COVID-19 testing boosted with two new PCR machines
– antigen tests to be rolled out soon
The Ministry of Health continues to increase Guyana’s COVID-19 testing response with the procurement of new equipment and additional tests.
Over the weekend, two new Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machines along with additional reagents were obtained to boost testing capacity at the National Public Health Reference Laboratory.
Minister Hon Dr. Frank Anthony made this disclosure during Monday’s COVID-19 update.
“These are all automated machines and once installed, we would now be able to do more than 1000 PCR tests per day, probably 1,500 or more in a given day.”
Additionally, the Ministry is preparing to roll out the rapid antigen tests. While the PCR test remains the “gold standard”, the antigen test is more cost effective and easier to administer.
However, the Minister noted, there are conditions for the use of this test. The antigen test will be given to persons exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19. For the test to be effective, a person would have to wait a few days after exposure to the disease before being tested.
“With the antigen tests, our protocol and the World Health Organization’s (WHO) protocol suggest that you use them when someone displays signs or symptoms of COVID-19. So, if someone is complaining of fatigue, headaches and all the typical signs and symptoms of COVID, the test will be conducted.”
While the timeframe for garnering results is shorter, the process for conducting a rapid antigen test is similar to that of a PCR test. Minister Anthony said the antigen tests will be used in areas where there are logistical challenges.
“Once people display signs and symptoms in a hard-to-reach area, these tests become more important that’s why we’re deploying them, but we are using it in combination with the PCR tests,” he explained. Training for healthcare workers who will administer the test has already started. Thirty staff members of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation completed the training last week.