After the COVID-19 scare in Jomotshangkha under Samdrup Jongkhar when an individual tested positive on rapid test kit which was later cleared by the Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) last week, people are questioning the reliability of the rapid test kits.
The Health Minister clarified that positive for IgM on rapid test kit could mean early exposure to the coronavirus but the virus could be noninfectious. Lyonpo said a rapid test is used to measure the level of types of antibodies in the blood namely Immunoglobulin M(IgM) and Immunoglobulin G(IgG).
IgM is the first antibody the body makes when it fights new infection and it would last only for a couple of weeks whereas IgG is an antibody developed to protect against the virus for the whole life.
The individual in Jomotsangkha tested positive for IgM.
“IgM positive could mean early recovery and early exposure and IgG remains for a lifetime. In the case of IgG, you would have developed antibodies for life which means specific to Coronavirus. So the chances are that the same strain of Coronavirus will not infect you next time. His IgG is negative because IgM is positive. He is exposed. His body is reacting to the virus and developed those antibodies,” said Dechen Wangmo, the Health Minister.
Lyonpo also said that to rule out the human error in the rapid test, the officials conducted the test six times. Jomotshangkha was under lockdown for a week.
“We are testing him and his close contacts by RT-PCR today. His close contacts came negative last time. So if the results are negative this time as well, then we will release him. But if his PCR result comes negative and his IgM is positive, we will continue his quarantine for 7 more days,” Lyonpo added.
The Health Minister also said that if he and his close contacts test negative today, the restriction will be eased in Jomotshangkha. However, health officials will keep on monitoring the suspect.
Sangay Chezom
