Minsal initiates plan to apply rapid tests to detect Covid-19 antibodies in the body

This morning the application of the so-called rapid tests that measure the presence of antibodies against Covid-19 infectionCalled IgM (Immunoglobulin M) and IgG (Immunoglobulin G), which bind to the virus, to deactivate or eliminate it.

The process was presented with a pilot experience in the Hospital El Carmen de Maipú, with the control to all the officials of the Units of Medicine and Geriatrics exposed daily to the care of positive patients infected with coronavirus; doctors, nurses, service assistants, and even the health minister himself, Jaime Mañalich (who was negative).

Strictly speaking, there was a three-week white march, where 133 officials from the Intensive Care Unit and 78 from Neonatology were tested.

“The Ministry of Health received a donation of 500,000 tests for the detection of antibodies”, Mañalich explained this day. “This test detects people who are asymptomatic and who had the disease. It is intended for health personnel and those who had close contact ”.

To take the test, all you have to do is drop a drop of blood into the device, similar to the one used for the HIV test, and your result can take as little as 15 minutes. “What it does is detect in a blood sample if the person has recent or old antibodies against the coronavirus”Mañalich explained.

The secretary of state added that through the ISP the validation of these tests with 400 samples. The results indicate that in 80% of the cases Those with antibodies were identified, which in the opinion of the authority, is a good number to test the population.

In addition, in the Maipú area, control tests were carried out with blood samples from positive patients diagnosed by PCR (the one that detects the presence of the virus), which also confirmed this condition; as well as with blood samples taken before the arrival of the pandemic in the country, which yielded negative.

In the mentioned hospital, there are only three positive officials.