The Drug Authority allows the public to do corona tests themselves

The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) 

Corona tests kits are available at medical stores for allowing the public to test themselves. The kit will be available at medical stores, allowing the public to do corona tests themselves.  The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has allowed medical stores to sell test kits to make corona testing easier, allowing the public to test themselves. 

The notification issued by the Federal Ministry of Health and DRAP said that the matter was discussed at the 44th meeting of the Medical Device Board (MDB) and a decision was taken regarding the Corona test. The notification states that the Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) is used to identify a person infected with the virus and that not all antigen tests available for COVID can be performed manually. 

Some tests are performed by laboratory staff or professionals or trained people, and the sample required for the test is nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal, Drape said. The notification said that according to the manufacturers' claim, self-testing or home test or over-the-counter test (OTC) may be suggested which the general public can do. 

Explaining the test, it was stated that such tests would require nasal or sputum samples. Drap says the method of self-testing is also a way to reduce many risks and reduce the risk of spreading COVID. The notification said that for the above reasons, the sale of OTC testing devices in pharmacies and medical stores has been allowed. 

It should be noted that the Rapid Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test is currently in use around the world and is available at other locations, including airports, whereas, in the early months of the spread of the coronavirus, tests were performed by a special kit. They had to be imported from abroad. Regarding the PCR test, Dawn was told by Dr. Javed Usman, a microbiologist, that although the rapid PCR test can be done in about 4 hours, it requires more logistics. 

"Simply put, rapid PCR tests enhance the sample and are done to eliminate the possibility of false-positive or false-negative results," he said. 

He said that the condition of testing at the airport is to reduce the chances of travel of infected passengers as the test confirms the virus in the passengers who do not have any symptoms. 

Dr. Javed Usman had said that the machines used for the test are the size of microwave ovens and have a limit of 35 cycles. 

Source: Dawn News.