Rapid antigen test kits are not used to replace RT-PCR technology but they are being used for emergency purposes to have Covid-19 tests in a short time, said Professor Dr Htay Htay Tin, deputy director general of the National Health Laboratory. 

She made the remark as rapid antigen test kits are being sold online these days defending that the ones used by the Ministry of Health and Sports are Standard Q Covid-19 Antigen (RDT) test kits. 

“We are seeing rapid antigen test kits available online these days. The ones we are using that can produce results within half an hour are emergency purposes only. We are not using them to replace gold standard RT-PCR. We are using the WHO-recognized rapid test kits officially bought by our ministry. If people buy rapid test kits sold online and ignore the Covid-19 guidelines by thinking that they are virus free, there will be much difficulty controlling the disease,” the professor commented. 

The ministry tests over 15,000 Covid-19 samples daily with the use of Cobas 6800 machines, RT-PCT machines, GeneXpert machines and Antigen Test Kits. 

Increased testing will see more positive cases but will facilitate the ongoing preventive and control measures 

Rapid Antigen Diagnostic Test Kits are being used at hospitals and in townships in Yangon Region. Such tests are also being carried out for the asymptomatic patients.