Latest News
- Kuwait Arrested 18 Drug Dealers
- 8 More Mental Health Clinics To Be Open
- Fishermen's Makeshift Houses Ordered To Be Removed By Kuwait
- Kuwait Cracks Down On Bachelors
- Non-oil Exports Of Kuwait Reached 106 Million Dinars In January,...
- Kuwait Joins The Global Celebration Of World Press Freedom Day
- Kuwaitis In UAE Advised To Exercise Caution Amid Unstable Weathe...
- MEW Has No Plans For Power Cuts And Is Ready To Tackle The Summe...
- Allow Employees To Transfer If Their Monthly Dues Are Not Paid
- Appeal Court Upholds Death Ruling In Friend’s Kill
- Pakistani Expat Died In A Tragic Accident
- The Hourly Domestic Workers Service Is A New Scam
False Result - Dha Bans Rapid Viral Testing Kit For Covid-19
Test found to give far too many false positives/negatives for coronavirus suspected cases
Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has banned the rapid viral test for COVID-19 following reports of false positives and negatives.
In a circular sent out to all private hospitals, outpatient care facilities and pharmaceutical establishments, DHA has asked them to refrain from using or selling the rapid viral anti-body testing kits.
The pregnancy-style rapid anti-body testing kits use blood samples of the individual to detect antibodies against COVID-19. However, its accuracy worldwide has been found to be less than 30 per cent.
Confirming the ban, Dr Jyoti Sateesh Rampallivar, specialist clinical pathologist at the Bio-health Diagnostic Centre, Dubai, said: “The efficacy of this test is not reliable. Although the test kits claim 97-99 per cent sensitivity, the test is neither reliable nor specific.”
Explaining how anti-viral kits work, Dr Anthony Thomas, director of diagnostics division at Prime Hospital,said: “Normally, our body produces antibodies in response to a virus or bacteria when we are exposed to it. Usually, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is taken through a nasal swab for early detection.
In case of the rapid testing kits, the antibodies develop after 5-7 or more days so it is not advisable for early detection and the current kits are not reliable.”
He said, “The rapid antibody blood test which has been banned was proving to be unreliable as it was giving far too many false positives and negatives causing confusion. Our main strength in this fight is effective diagnosis that can help prevention and spread of COVID-19. So withdrawing the test was the right step.”
SOURCE : TIMESKUWAIT
Trending News
-
Expat Residency Law Amended By Kuwait Ministerial...
20 April 2024
-
Ministry Announces Separate Time For Amnesty Seeke...
21 April 2024
-
The Ministry Connects With Violators Of Residency...
23 April 2024
-
AstraZeneca Admits Covid Vaccine Can Cause Rare Si...
29 April 2024
-
Work Permits Will Be Issued For One Year Under The...
27 April 2024
-
3 Expats Caught In Salmiya With 213 Bottles Of Loc...
23 April 2024
-
Temperature Increases Cause Electricity Load Index...
21 April 2024
-
Al-Nuer Festival Celebrates Kuwaiti Agriculture Wi...
22 April 2024
-
Peak-time 'cut-offs' Raise Fears Of An Electricity...
22 April 2024
-
Road Trip From Kuwait To Bahrain Via Saudi: Travel...
22 April 2024
Comments Post Comment