Get to Know More about the Rapid Test, Cost, and Location of COVID-19 Tests

Citra

Thursday, May 28, 2020 | 11:26 am

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News24xx.com - The rapid test was mentioned in Circular Letter 4 of 2020 Task Force for the Acceleration of Handling COVID-19. This letter describes the Criteria for Travel Restrictions for the Acceleration of Handling of COVID-19. A rapid test is a mandatory requirement for those who have to travel.

"Showing negative COVID-19 results based on the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Test / Rapid Test or health certificate from the health department/hospital / Public Health Center (Puskesmas)/ health clinic," the circular wrote.

Here is information about what is a rapid test, cost, and COVID-19 test location.

1. What is a rapid test?
Rapid test is the initial screening of coronavirus in the body through blood samples. This sample provides information on the presence of immunoglobulin or IgM and IgG in the human body.

IgM and IgG are antibodies that the body produces when exposed to the coronavirus. If the rapid test shows positive results, the examination is continued with a swab test using PCR. Swab tests to make sure IgM and IgG are produced because the coronavirus is nothing else.

2. How the rapid test works
Rapid tests are carried out by taking blood samples by health workers. The blood sample was dropped on a COVID-19 rapid test kit that is available with antibody marker fluid.

The results of the rapid test will look like it takes 10-15 minutes in the form of lines on the information C, IgG, and IgM. The line on C indicates the patient is negative, while the line on C and IgG or IgM indicates the patient is positive.

In negative patients, the test will usually be repeated within 7-10 days. Re-checking to ensure the body does not produce IgM or IgG due to coronavirus exposure. IgM and IgG formation can take several weeks depending on the body's reaction.

3. The location of the rapid test
Rapid tests are available at health centers throughout Indonesia for the COVID-19 examination. However, this rapid test is only for patients with Monitoring status or ODP, so there is no need to go to the hospital.

Rapid tests are now available in various public and private health facilities with varying prices and services. Rapid test kits can even be obtained at various online stores. In addition, the online application also provides COVID-19 rapid test for its users.

4. Rapid test costs
With cost considerations, some people choose to buy their own rapid test kits online. Furthermore, the inspection is carried out alone based on the instructions for using the tool.

In response to this, the Director of the Eijkman Molecular Biology Institute (LBME) Prof. Amin Soebandrio suggested that examinations should still be carried out at health facilities. Inspections supervised by the officer allow the public to know the next step if the rapid test shows positive or negative results.

Rapid test kits purchased online can be obtained at prices of hundreds of thousands to millions. The same thing happened in the provision of rapid tests in various public and private hospitals.