Rapid Antigen tests unproductive in certain instances: Dr.Sudath Samaraweera

By Sheain Fernandopulle

The Rapid Antigen test would be productive in many occasions but there were also occasions where a PCR test had to be conducted subsequent to the Antigen test, Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Sudath Samaraweera said yesterday.   

Addressing a media briefing Dr. Samaraweera said it is necessary to conduct a PCR test on a patient with Covid-19 symptoms at hospitals when his or her Rapid Antigen test result is negative.   

“The Antigen test can also be used on corpses to ascertain the infection of the virus on the body. However, a PCR test has to be conducted to further verify results of the Antigen test,” he added.   

He said the test will be used especially for contacts of the Covid-19 patients and people who arrive at hospitals with Covid-19 symptoms. However, if the Antigen test result becomes negative, a PCR test is carried out on such patients to reconfirm it. “We will be able to rapidly identify Covid-19 patients because this test will be carried out at the site of the collection of the sample. The test should not be carried out in a laboratory and the test will only take 30 minutes to receive the reports,” he said.   

Rapid Antigen tests were carried out from Wednesday (18) to identify COVID-19 patients following approval of the Director General of Health Services on the 17th.