Ministry orders to halt Covid-19 antibody testing

The Ministry of Health has ordered to halt antibody testing for the global Covid-19 pandemic.

In a circular publicized on Wednesday, the ministry revealed that tests will be conducted under the procedure set under the National Surveillance and Response System which was established in order to identify the virus and contain its spread.

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing is conducted to identify if Covid-19 is present in samples collected from individuals.

The circular by the ministry notes that PCR testing can only be conducted by workers who have been trained to do so under the set guidelines and procedures of the national laboratory system.

PCR testing is currently conducted at hospital laboratories under the ministry as well as those registered at the ministry.

The ministry went on to stress that antibody testing is not required for Covid-19 testing, under the Surveillance and Response System, at present.

Despite this, it has come under the ministry’s attention that some individuals and private companies have been conducting antibody tests and taking action based on the results. The ministry has strongly urged to stop this practice as it hinders the system under which authorities are working to control the spread of the infection.

Further, doing so will create confusion for those conducting the tests as well as hinder the work being carried out to control the spread of the virus by isolating contacts of positive patients as well.

In light of this, the general public has been urged to halt antibody testing.

Individuals conducting antibody testing for research purposes have been requested to contact the ministry’s health research council to proceed.

Antibody testing will only be permitted under special circumstances and guidelines set by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), reads the circular.