Peru Health Min confirms use of 1.4 million rapid tests to detect COVID-19

00:00 | Lima, Mar. 26.

Health Minister Victor Zamora reiterated that the Ministry of Health (Minsa) will buy 1.4 million serological tests, known as rapid tests, which will strengthen the epidemiological surveillance of coronavirus (COVID-19), identify where the virus spreads within the territory, and expand the diagnostic capability.

The minister explained that these serological tests will complement the molecular ones, which have also been requested in the international market and serve to confirm if someone has COVID-19.

Zamora noted that this purchase comes after an analysis carried out by Minsa and a report conducted by the National Health Institute (INS), the competent authority in this regard, which suggested being "more ambitious" when it comes to samples.

The purchase of rapid tests has been supported by the Committee of Independent Experts, which Minsa constantly consults to know about the technologies that will be progressively used to support the pandemic response.

The committee comprises Eduardo Gotuzzo, an infection disease specialist at Cayetano Heredia University; Ciro Maguiña, Dean of the Peruvian College of physicians; Eduardo Ticona, expert at San Marcos University; and

Ruben Mayorga, PAHO/WHO Representative in Peru.

"We have a committee of talented experts. They have reviewed INS technical recommendations to back the purchase and confirmed that rapid testing is indeed a complementary instrument to molecular testing. It will be a tool for epidemiological surveillance," he explained.

(END) RRC/RMB/MVB

Publicado: 26/3/2020