Coronavirus Pandemic
A Virologist and Medical Laboratory Scientist, Dr. Solomon Chollom, has urged Federal and State Ministries of Health, to include the COVID-19 test as part of routine tests conducted in hospitals.
Chollom made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Jos, Plateau.
He pointed out that some cases of COVID-19 were mild or asymptomatic, and as such, routine diagnosis of all patients accessing health care for COVID-19 in hospitals would go a long way in detecting cases that would ordinarily be missed if the diagnosis was limited to case definition.
The virologist, however, said that tests for COVID-19 in hospitals could only be made possible when Validated Rapid Diagnostic Test Kits for the preliminary screening of viral antibodies against the COVID-19 virus became available, just as it is with the current screening of hepatitis and HIV.
Chollom also said the validated rapid diagnostic test was cheaper to conduct and the test would help upscale the number of people tested.
He observed that the current molecular-based testing for COVID-19 in Nigeria posed an impediment as it was expensive and needed sophisticated diagnostic facilities such as high-class laboratory and a minimum of a class three lab, saying this could not be sustained by the government over time due to its cost.
He further said that the molecular laboratory was also a big challenge to mass community testing.
The virologist said the validated rapid diagnostic test for COVID-19, was key for upscale testing and early detection. (NAN)
– May 27, 2020 @ 14:09 GMT |
Tags: Virologist advocates inclusion of COVID-19 test into routine hospital tests
