Opinions & Interviews

Belarus to decide on mass use of rapid antibody tests after trials

Inna Karaban. An archive photo

MINSK, 22 April (BelTA) – The Belarusian Healthcare Ministry will make a decision on mass use of rapid antibody tests after trials, deputy head of the department for hygiene, epidemiology and disease prevention at the Healthcare Ministry Inna Karaban said during a live stream on the YouTube channel of the National Press Center, BelTA has learned.

“By the end of April, rapid antibody tests for detecting the coronavirus will be delivered to Belarus, and we will carry out their assessment and trials in healthcare facilities. After that, we will decide whether to supply them to healthcare facilities to test the population and whether it will be free of charge,” Inna Karaban said.

Belarus already has certain experience in testing for COVID-19 antibodies, head of the infectious diseases department of Belarusian State Medical University, Lead Clinician for Infectious Diseases (non-staff) of the Healthcare Ministry Igor Karpov added. At the same time, one should not overestimate the accuracy of these tests. “We have reliable methods for diagnosing this disease. It is good that some studies focus on the immune system, but in general we are content with the quality of tests we are using now,” he noted.

Igor Karpov explained that the immune system of almost all healthy people produces antibodies. The severe form of the infection is observed in people with a weak immune system. “A person’s immune status is very important. The course of the disease is also often influenced by the infective dose, that is, the number of viruses infecting the body,” he said.

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