The Ministry of Health informs that the valid ways of diagnosing active infection of the disease COVID-19, is by performing molecular analysis by the RT-PCR method or by detecting the virus antigen by the rapid test method (antigenrapidtest). It is emphasized that both methods use clinical specimens from nasopharyngeal or oral mucosal smear.
Note that the detection of antibodies against the virus by the method of rapid test (antibodyrapidtest) is not used for primary diagnosis of infection COVID-19. It is emphasized that the antibody test, which is performed in rapid tests with a drop of blood, detects only antibodies that the immune system develops in response to the virus, ie it does not detect the virus itself. It may take days to several weeks for several antibodies to develop that can be detected in a rapid test.
In addition, the Ministry of Health informs that, at present, the use of both rapid antigen and rapid antibody tests is done only by health professionals and not by the public, ie they are not intended for self-diagnosis.
It is emphasized that the sampling process is potentially dangerous if health professionals are not trained in the proper sampling process and the safe application and removal of Personal Protective Equipment.
It is necessary to inform the Unit of Epidemiological Surveillance and Control of Infectious Diseases about the positive result with the method of rapid antigen testing, in order to start the tracing process. Therefore, the healthcare professional is responsible for recording and sending personal data of the positive case (Name, Identity Card No., Date of Birth, Contact Telephone, etc.), in order to ensure the confidentiality and confidentiality of personal data . In addition, the healthcare professional should report to the Epidemiological Surveillance Unit the name of the rapid antigen test used. It should be noted that rapid antibody test results should not be reported, as they are not a valid way to diagnose active disease infection. COVID-19.
For more information regarding the process of reporting positive results to the Infectious Diseases Surveillance and Infection Control Unit, health professionals can contact 1412.