Esorom concerned with import of rapid test kits

The National National

NATIONAL Pandemic Response Deputy Controller Dr Daoni Esorom says rapid test kits for the Coronavirus (Covid-19) being brought into the country must be validated by the National Control Centre (NCC).
“I am concerned that too many organisations and (private) companies are bringing in rapid test kits,” he said.
“It is becoming a concern because these are not validated by the NCC.
“These have the potential to mess up our national testing protocols.
“There are certain requirements that organisations/companies must meet before the NCC gives approval for the test kits to be used in the country.”
Dr Esorom said three steps that needed to be done before approvals were given:

  • THE kits must be locally field validated to see the performance of these kits on the Melanesian population;
  • FROM the field validation, NCC’s technical team will determine the positive predictive value, negative predictive value, sensitivity and specificity on the performance of the test kits in the field; and,
  • THE kits must be prequalified by the World Health Organisation.

“I strongly encourage any organisation or companies willing to bring in any new rapid test kits to get in touch with our laboratory team at the NCC for advise on what to do in order to get these kits approved for use in the country,’’ he said.