Neiva (Huila), July 23, 2020. A new diagnostic test for covid-19 is available in Colombia as of today. "It consists of the antigen test, which directly detects the virus proteins. Validations in specificity, that is, the similarity between the diagnostic capacity and the capacity of the antigen test that we are evaluating compared to the PCR is well above 90%," said the Minister of Health and Social Protection, Fernando Ruiz.
These tests are highly valid and also have the advantage of taking less time to read and report. That is, while we are speaking of days with the PCR, with the antigens we are speaking of hours for the delivery of results. This is because these new tests do not require reagents.
"Due to the current high demand for tests, where the capacity for PCR testing has been exceeded, there have been delays in the delivery of the results. Now we can tell the country and EPSs about this new test so that in the future we can make a faster diagnosis," added Ruiz.
At the moment 100,000 tests are available, but in the short term there could be a million, some of which will be acquired by the National Government and others by the EPSs. Additionally, when comparing costs to PCR, they are cheaper by almost 50%.
The Health Minister also indicated that, next week, analyses could be started on patients with these tests.
Additionally, the Ministry is working on the review of tests in order to improve processes, as well as the possibility of increasing production capacity. Although 97 laboratories have been reached, increased capacity has not been homogeneous in the country for extraction in PCR tests.
The Ministry of Health does not recommend commercial tests
In relation to the tests that are privately marketed for covid-19, Minister Ruiz indicated that the Ministry does not recommend them because they are delivering a significant number of false positives.
The Minister also brought to mind that the drugs ivermectin, chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine are not recommended for covid-19 and he made a call to not self-medicate. "There is no evidence so far of the effectiveness of these drugs for the novel coronavirus," he reiterated.
New model of oxygen therapy at home
Regarding reports of delays in care or hospital discharge of covid-19 patients by health providers, the minister announced that a model of oxygen therapy at home has been prepared, if necessary. Regarding specific cases of irregularities, Ruiz invited all to file the respective complaints before the National Superintendency of Health.
In closing, the Minister of Health indicated that in the case of Bogotá, the city still has ICU capacity. "With what we have discussed with the district administration, the targeted quarantine effect is very similar to Cartagena and Leticia, since it has effective and positive results in terms of reducing the contagion growth rate due to contact, as well as mobility in the most critical localities," Ruiz concluded, specifying that given the size of the city's population, it is an issue that will last a long time.
