Covid-19: HEOC to begin antibody testing this week
13 އޮކްޓޯބަރު 2020 | އަންގާރަ 12:32The tests will be conducted on all age groups
A healthcare worker collecting samples for testing
The Health Emergency Operations Center (HEOC) is to begin conducting antibody testing within this week.
The antibody testing will be conducted in collaboration with the Maldives National University.
This was revealed by the spokesperson of the center, Dr. Nazla Rafeeq during Monday night’s presser, where she noted that they have received the permit to begin conducting antibody tests.
Highlighting that they have also acquired the necessary items to begin the program within this week, Nazla revealed that tests will be conducted on all age groups.
As such, the program will start with students.
An exact date to begin the antibody testing program has not been specified.
Nazla added that health authorities will only be able to pinpoint a specific percent of the community immune to the virus, once tests are carried out.
She added that the protocols for the immunity study have been approved.
Speaking to press earlier, Consultant at the Health Protection Agency (HPA), Dr. Sheena Moosa revealed that discussions to carry out antibody testing were held to identify those in the community immune to the virus.
Antibody testing was also conducted by ADK Hospital earlier. They discovered antibodies from 125 frontline workers out of the 3,004 tests conducted.
