Covid-19: SA not manufacturing rapid test kits

Minister of Health, Zweli Mkhize confirmed, in his address to the nation this evening, that South Africa would not be manufacturing its own test kits.

“There are, however, a number of options that we are looking at,” Mkhize said.

He clarified that the first type of test used was a rapid test kit for antibodies of the novel coronavirus.

“There are a number of countries that have these kits.

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“We want to validate them and make sure that we get the most credible ones and those are the ones we are going to use,” he said.

Mkhize added that the test that would be used at mobile testing stations would be throat swabs that the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is tested on.

“Once we get to increase the number of rapid test kits we will change the approach,” Mkhize said.

He added that another type of test the department was exploring is called the Genexpert. “Genexpert is the same equipment used to test for tuberculosis.

“It is fairly sensitive and works within a very short period of time,” he said.

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“In about 45 minutes you’ll get your results back.”

He added that this type of test was already using the same type of equipment that is available.

“However, because it has not been properly validated and properly registered, we are not there yet. “Once it is sorted out we can talk about it,” the Minister said.