Health Minister Pilar Mazzetti on Thursday reported that health care providers in Peru will continue to use molecular and serological tests since each type of test offers special characteristics to detect the virus at different stages of the infection. In addition, they complement each other to monitor the spread of the pandemic in the country.
The molecular test will be used in the first days of infection, that is, within the first 7 days since the symptoms first appeared, because of its high capacity to detect the virus.
For its part, the serological one is ideal for the second week of the disease, because it can detect the antibodies that the body produces in response to the virus.
"It should be noted that the serological test is used mainly in seroprevalence studies across the country," she detailed.
There is no specific treatment
The
Ministry of Health (Minsa) remarked that there is no specific treatment for the novel coronavirus and that the decision to stop using hydroxychloroquine, ivermectin, and azithromycin in hospitalized patients was adopted after gathering medical data on the effectiveness of said medicines.
The first study included analysis of patients undertaken until September 14 and the second one was published on October 8.
According to Mazzetti, the standard —issued on October 13— is based on a consensus of members of the COVID-19 Working Group and will be in force until new information on the disease management becomes available.
(END) NDP/KGR/RMB
Published: 10/15/2020