Malaysia will receive a new Antigen Rapid Test Kit from South Korea tomorrow, said Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.
He said once received, it would be verified by the Ministry of Health (MOH) on its accuracy and sensitivity.
"We are hoping that this new kit's sensitivity, specificity and accuracy rate will be over 80 per cent so that we can improve the number of tests conducted daily to 16,500 from 11,500 tests currently," he told a daily news conference here today.
He also said that the ministry would consider purchasing the kit if it meets the criteria.
He said procuring effective test kit was among measures taken to increase the capacity of the 43 labs that are currently operating across the country, besides the plan to add two more labs, each in Sandakan and Tawau.
"We are trying to optimise our labs' capacity by pooling five cases at one go and hopefully we can improve the turnaround time as well," he said.
He said the ministry was also looking at conducting the test using the PCR (polymerase chain reaction) method with the use of machines imported from China's BGI Genomics Co.
"More importantly, it is automated so the process can be done faster and perhaps with the machines we can do an additional of 5,000 tests per day," he added.
On the use of sanitising tunnel, Dr Noor Hisham said it was a good innovation, however, there was a need for a thorough study on its effectiveness.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Sun Apr 05 2020
Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said once received, it would be verified by the Ministry of Health (MOH) on its accuracy and sensitivity. - BERNAMA photo
Peserta maraton Cyberjaya dipapah lepasi garisan penamat
Peserta maraton rebah di garisan penamat sejurus sebelum menamatkan larian 42km dalam perlumbaan Twincity Marathon Cyberjaya.
Proton buka pusat penyelidikan dan pembangunan di Teluk Hangzhou, China
Pembukaan pusat R&D itu akan meningkatkan sinergi kecekapan dalaman mereka dengan penggunaan sumber dan pengetahuan Geely.
AWANI Ringkas: Wujudkan akta lindungi pekerja OKU/autistik
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Kementerian Perpaduan kaji keperluan Pelan Tindakan Pendidikan, Penghargaan Rukun Negara
Pelan tindakan ini menggariskan modus operandi melibatkan Kementerian Perpaduan Negara, Kementerian Pendidikan, Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi, dan Kementerian Komunikasi.
PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu: Calon PH tayang sijil UPSR 7A, SPM 10A
Calon PH, Pang Sock Tao menyahut cabaran Ketua Penerangan Pas, Ahmad Fadhli Shaari supaya menunjukkan kelulusan pendidikan rendah dan menengahnya.
AWANI Ringkas: Wujudkan akta lindungi pekerja OKU/autistik
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Isu stoking: Pengarah KK Mart, isteri akan kemuka representasi kepada AGC
Pengarah KK Mart yang berdepan dua pertuduhan melukakan perasaan orang Islam dalam isu berkaitan penjualan stoking tertera kalimah Allah akan mengemukakan representasi kepada Jabatan Peguam Negara.
Inisiatif IHH Healthcare lancar pemasangan panel solar wajar jadi contoh - Fadillah Yusof
IHH Healthcare Malaysia mencatatkan pencapaian baharu dengan melancarkan inisiatif pemasangan panel solar di seluruh rangkaian hospitalnya sekali gus menjadikannya pelopor.
Che'gu Bard akan didakwa di Johor Bahru esok
Che'gu Bard berkata, ia dipercayai berhubung kenyataannya mengenai isu kasino di Forest City, Johor.
Ahmad Zahid ucap tahniah kepada Farah Ain
Ahmad Zahid mengucapkan tahniah kepada atlet boling padang Nor Farah Ain Abdullah yang muncul juara pada Kejohanan Boling Padang Dalam Dewan Dunia 2024.