Understand the SARS-CoV-2 Detection Method for controlling the Covid-19 Case
Saturday, June 6, 2020, the University of Surabaya (Ubaya) Faculty of Biotechnology, in collaboration with the Ubaya Institute of Research and Community Service (LPPM), once again held a Fighting Covid-19 Pandemic Seminar. The SARS-CoV-2 Detection Method is the highlight of this webinar. At least 100 participants from various professions throughout Indonesia attended the seminar held online through Zoom. Prof. Suyanto, S.E., M.Ec.Dev., Ph.D., as the Head of Ubaya LPPM also attended and opened the webinar.
"Is detection for Covid-19 needed in efforts to control the Covid-19 case in Indonesia?" asked Dr. Dra. Mariana Wahjudi, M.Sc., as the speaker. Previously, Mariana also explained some of the cases that are recently happening in Indonesia. One of them was taken from the Kompas.com website, which says that the rapid test in Indonesia based on tracing is different from that of South Korea. Likewise, with the case of forced pick-up from Covid-19 patients quoted from the Republika website, the patient is not willing to be picked up because the patient feels the first test result was negative.
"There are two general types of tests for the detection method of SARS-CoV-2, namely diagnostic tests and antibody tests," concluded Mariana. A diagnostic test is a test that can show Covid-19 infection. While the antibody test is used to detect antibodies formed due to Covid-19, not to diagnose active Covid-19 infection. The diagnostic test itself is divided into two types of tests, namely the molecular test (RT-PCR) and the Antigen test.
Mariana explained various things briefly and concisely, starting from a detailed explanation for the various methods, how to read the results of a test, until the workings of the test also explained. Not to forget, the advantages and disadvantages of various methods or tests were also explained.
"Which detection method is the most accurate and efficient?" asked Mahfut, one of the participants in the question and answer session, the closing session of the webinar. According to Mariana, the molecular method is the most accurate method, although there are some disadvantages. Likewise, Hendra Pratama from Universitas Trinita also asked whether it is possible if the rapid test results were positive, but the PCR results are negative or vice versa.
"Actually, the antibody tested positive will not guarantee that it will be positive later on the PCR," answered Mariana. That is because the time distance between the day of sampling and the day we are exposed will affect these results.