[ad_1]
General news for Sunday, September 6, 2020
Source: Peace FM
2020-09-06
The Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye
Click to read all about the coronavirus →
The Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye, has justified why the Government of Ghana has opted for antigen testing to prevent the importation of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) into the country.
According to Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye, the antigen test is one of the best and safest tests to quickly detect the presence or absence of the virus in humans.
Talking to Kwami Sefa Kayi at Friday’s ” Kokrokoo ” on Peace FM
He noted that after consultations they decided on an effective testing regimen from South Korea which is antigen testing.
” When we met as a COVID working group chaired by His Excellency President Akufo-Addo with the advice of my boss, the Hon. Kwaku Agyemang Manu, we were concerned about two important things; have a very accurate testing regimen in terms of detecting the virus and [2] We don’t want proof that the results will come within 7/8 hours or else the people who will be packing up at Kotoka will even make the airport an incubation for the disease. So we quickly looked for those with solutions and we got this solution from South Korea that does antigen testing. ”
He explained that the antigen test incorporates a scientific test method called “fluorescence immunoassay” that will help detect the smallest viral load in a person so as not to give the possibility of a minimum error occurring.
The fluorescence immunoassay, according to the research, is a technique used in the measurement and identification of antibodies and in the quantification of antigens such as viral particles and bacteria.
” Antigen test is any test that when the result is positive means that it has detected the live virus in the person’s body. PCR is a form of antigen test because it identifies the virus, ” he stated, adding that “ in addition to identifying the sequence, all the sequences can be collected to get the complete map of the virus. The virus map shows the nature of the virus. ”
Dr. Okoe Boye further stated that, with the antigen test, the COVID-19 results will arrive within 12 minutes, but the approximate 30-minute result by the health authorities is to compensate for any contingencies.
” It’s about protecting lives; We had to look for this solution at the airport currently which identifies the virus, the antigen, not the antibody and [number 2] You have reliability or precision side by side with our PCR facility. And guess what; You don’t have to wait 1 hour, but in 12 minutes, then you have your COVID antigen results, ” he said.
It also revealed that its accuracy rate is around 99 percent.
Disclaimer
GhanaWeb is not responsible for the reports or opinions of the contributors published on the website. Read our disclaimer.
Send your news to
and by WhatsApp in +233 55 2699 625.
