Malang, (malangkota.go.id) – Antigen swabs are widely used for Covid-19 testing and tracing. The antigen swab method, also known as rapid antigen, works by detecting certain proteins from the virus that trigger an immune response.
As the name 'rapid' suggests, the results of an antigen swab can be known in a short time, especially when compared to the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) swab method. Although the results can be known quickly, this examination is more accurate than the rapid antibody test.
The recent increase in positive cases of Covid-19 should be an alarm for the public to continue to comply with health protocols. Immediately get tested if you experience symptoms or after close contact with a confirmed positive patient. Unfortunately, many people are still reluctant to do this antigen swab test because they feel sick and/or uncomfortable.
The Covid-19 test method using antigen swabs by inserting a fairly long tool into the nostrils is often a problem for the public, especially for children and the elderly.
Currently, there are two types of antigen swab tests that have been used based on recommendations from the Indonesian Ministry of Health (Kemenkes RI) and the World Health Organization (WHO), namely nasopharyngeal and nasal antigen swabs.
"Before and now, samples for rapid antigen tests were taken from the nasopharynx. But now there is also a tool that can take samples from the nasal part. If you use a nasopharyngeal tool, it goes in deep until it stops in the nose, while if it is nasal, it still goes into the nostrils but not as deep as the nasopharynx," explained the Head of the Malang City Regional Health Laboratory (Labkesda), Sukardi, Friday (28/1/2022).
For nasal sampling, the tool is only inserted into the nose approximately two centimeters deep. This nasal antigen swab is much more comfortable and minimizes pain during sampling. Taking nasal antigen swab samples is also easier. Sampling through the nose must be in accordance with the provisions.
"On the tool there is a thick and thin stem, as an indicator for officers, how deep to take the sample. For accuracy, it is the same as the nasopharyngeal," he added.
In order to suppress the number of Covid-19 cases, the government continues to strengthen 3T or testing, tracing, and treatment. Testing is needed to detect a person's status, by knowing their status, if they are confirmed positive, tracing and treatment will be easier to do.
The government is also trying to increase testing, including setting the highest price for antigen swabs at IDR 99.000,00 for Java and Bali and IDR 109.000 for outside Java and Bali. (ari/ram)
