The Ministry of Health is exploring the possibility of conducting point-of-care testing in Guyana for COVID-19 as a means of achieving a faster turn-around time for results, which could be available in as little as 15 minutes.
This was announced on Wednesday by Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony during a COVID-19 update, although he cautioned that the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) diagnostic test remains the gold standard for testing.
“They’re not as accurate as the PCR but they are accurate. But if we get those machines and when we use them, if we have any inconclusive result we will then be able to revert back to the PCR,” Dr Anthony noted, while pointing out that results could be available within 15 to 45 minutes as opposed to the 24 or 48 hours that some patients have to wait with PCR testing.
