Photo caption: A rapid chromatographic immunoassay for the qualitative detection of specific antigens to SARS-CoV-2 present in human nasopharynx. Results released within 15-30 minutes. Photo credit: Baiq Sunarniati – Provincial Health Laboratory Papua Jayapura
To support ongoing efforts in expanding COVID‑19 testing strategies in Indonesia, WHO provides one million antigen-detecting rapid diagnostic tests (Ag-RDTs) to the Ministry of Health. The Ag-RDTs were handed over to the Ministry of Health on Saturday, 13 March 2021 to be further distributed to community health centres (puskesmas) and other points of care across the country.
Timely and reliable testing is crucial to control and manage the COVID‑19 pandemic. Compared to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, ag-RDTs perform faster and are simpler to use. The Ag-RDTs provide a result in less than 30 minutes, by detecting SARS-COV-2 viral proteins in respiratory excretion using a test format that is commonly used for HIV and malaria testing.
Ag-RDTs could significantly contribute to enabling quick isolation of cases and timely start of contact tracing to curb COVID‑19 transmission in a community. The simplicity of use provides a major advantage to conduct tests in areas with limited access to laboratories with PCR testing, or when there is a long turnaround time for PCR test results.
WHO provided technical assistance to MoH to develop the Ministerial Decree No. HK.01.07/MENKES/446/2021 on the ‘Use of Antigen Rapid Diagnostic Test in Testing of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)’. The decree was released on 8 February and provides guidance on how antigen-detecting rapid diagnostic tests can be used for SARS‑CoV‑2 diagnosis as well as the criteria for products that can be used in Indonesia, including those that are listed in WHO Emergency Use Listing.
WHO still recommends the PCR as the gold standard test for SARS-CoV-2. Ag-RDTs do not replace the PCR testing, but complement and accelerate the country’s overall testing capacity. The use of ag-RDTs is recommended for testing persons with symptoms of COVID-19 and contacts of confirmed cases.
The procurement of one million ag-RDTs at an estimated cost of US$ 5 million has been made possible among others with the support of the Government of Japan.