Only two local laboratories accredited to do PCR testing
– several private labs can now do antigen tests
– US accepting antigen test results
Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Frank Anthony says while the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test remains the gold standard for Covid, the Ministry has accredited several private medical facilities to conduct the antigen test.
The antigen test is suitable for point-of-care testing as it detects the presence or absence of an antigen (viral proteins expressed by the disease) in the body.
During Wednesday’s COVID-19 update, Dr Anthony said the Ministry has examined the laboratories of several local hospitals to determine their capability to conduct the antigen test.
“The Ministry of Health, through its technical division has been able to go around to a number of health institutions, people who have traditionally been providing health care, such as the Dr. Balwant Singh’s Hospital and Woodlands Hospital and so forth, and review whether or not they have the capabilities of doing antigen testing.
All of them that we have published have agreed that they’re able to do it, they have been doing it and so we have been able to licence them,” he said.
This accreditation, Dr. Anthony said, comes with a specific responsibility as any intuition which records a positive antigen test must report it to the Ministry so that the requisite contact tracing procedures can be activated.
“So, there is also a protocol if somebody gets tested positive. Of course, if they have a negative test and they are testing themselves for the purposes of travelling, then they can present themselves to the authority.”
Dr. Anthony said the Ministry will expand its current list of COVID-19 testing laboratories as it reviews the protocols of other medical institutions.
The Minister also noted that only two laboratories have been accredited to conduct the PCR test.
“There are, only, in Guyana right now, two laboratories that are capable of doing proper PCR testing, and these two labs would be the National Public Health Reference lab that has been certified to do this and has been doing this type of test, and Eureka Medical Laboratory.”
PCR and antigen tests are the most recognised methods of testing for COVID-19, but they work differently. According to the World Health Organization, while the antigen tests look for proteins on the surface of the virus to ascertain the presence of the pathogen, the PCR tests are engineered to seek genetic material called RNA, which instructs the virus to make these proteins. Both tests require a swab from the back of the nose or throat as a sample. The PCR is almost 100 per cent accurate, while antigen tests are more prone to false negative results, as a sample becomes weakened during the testing process.
Minister Anthony acknowledged that since the PCR test is more expensive than the antigen test, more people have been doing the latter, particularly for travel. He noted that the United Stated has introduced new travel guidelines which accepts either PCR or antigen tests, once done within 72 hours of travel. The Health Minister is urging Guyanese to ensure they double check the travel guidelines for specific countries before proceeding with the test.