Peru has begun talks with the
Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to get antigen-based rapid diagnostic tests, which can detect COVID-19 or SARS-CoV-2 in less than 30 minutes,
Health Minister Pilar Mazzetti said on Thursday.
"Talks have begun with PAHO over the use of antigen-based tests, whose efficacy is quite significant, very similar to that found in the molecular tests, and work relatively quickly," the head of the
Health Ministry (Minsa) reported.
Regarding
the use of molecular tests, Dr. Mazzetti stated that they have been reduced because epidemiological conditions are changing.
"The decrease has to do with the lower demand, but it has nothing to do with the fact that we are not using them," she explained.
According to the government official, Minsa is reinforcing the use of molecular tests. Besides, there are 49 authorized stationary laboratories now, plus a mobile one, so that more regions can process this type of tests.
Additionally, she affirmed that —for 10 days now— the ministry has been distributing 300,000 additional molecular tests to regions and that another 150,000 will soon arrive in the country.
As stated by the minister, there are 200,000 (molecular) tests in stock, which are held in reserve for an eventual epidemiological change in Peru.
Moreover, to facilitate their use —she added— an epidemiological alert has been issued specifying the conditions for the use of molecular as well as rapid or serological tests.
(END) NDP/LIT/RMB/MVB
Publicado: 1/10/2020