The Health Business Entity (BUKes) of Universitas Brawijaya (UB) conducted a sample test for COVID-19 through the SWAB Antigen Test to determine the effectiveness level of the antigen and it is predicted that it will replace the rapid test.
“The SWAB Antigen Test does not require lab tests such as PCR tests to minimize the limitations of laboratories in Indonesia, which is only 261 labs.The SWAB Antigen Test is useful for areas that do not have a lab, ”said the director of PT Oikos Perkasa, Putut Satryanto as an antigen provider company.
He added that the use of the antigen test is easier than the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test and it is faster to find out the results, only about 15-20 minutes. In addition, its use is also easy, that is only by inserting it into the nasopharynx and oropharynx and then dropping the reactive extraction and the results can be seen in about 15-20 minutes.
Therefore, to prove the accuracy of the SWAB antigen test, on Monday (5/10/2020) a sample test of the SWAB Antigen Test was conducted, totaling 30 people, 15 percent from the general public and the rest are UB academicians.
Meanwhile, the Director of UB Polyclinic, dr. Fida Rahmayanti MMRS said that the sensitivity of the Antigen to the COVID-19 Virus is predicted to reach 90-94 percent. If the test result is positive, it is possible that the patient has the COVID-19 virus.
However, if the test result is negative, it is necessary to carry out further tests.
Fida also reminded that the highest standard or gold standard for detecting COVID-19 still uses PCR.
Previously, the SWAB Antigen Test was tested at University of Indonesia (UI) then the second test was carried out in UB.
“The most important thing is the price, the government charges 900 thousand for the SWAB test, while PT Oikos Perkasa only charges 30-40 percent of the price given by the government,” added Putut Satryanto as Director of PT Oikos Perkasa.
So that people can do the Antigen Swab Test at affordable prices.
Putut added that South Korea had conducted a SWAB Antigen Test in April.
Then on September 17, WHO has agreed to expand the use of the SWAB Antigen Test.
The hope is that with the collaboration between PT Oikos Perkasa and UB Polyclinic in developing the SWAB Antigen Test, it can make UB as the pioneer university in handling COVID-19 in Malang City [PON / IKA / RBT / Humas UB/ Trans. Iir]
