–PAHO-WHO ‘rep’ reassures public, asks that they refrain from doing test privately

By Naomi Parris

IN the last few weeks, Guyana has seen a significant increase in the discovery of positive (COVID)-19 cases, and with the enormity of the situation finally beginning to register, anxiety levels are at an all-time high.
Adding to the fear and already tense atmosphere is the bizarre rumour going the rounds of contaminated testing kits being used to infect the population with the virus.

Said rumour having no doubt come to the attention of Dr. William Adu-Krow, the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO)’s envoy here, he hastened to reassure the public by way of an interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI) on Thursday that both organisations he represents ensure that the testing kits that are being used here and elsewhere to detect the coronavirus meet all the necessary standards before they are dispatched to the various countries for use.

“I can assure the public that the tests being done in Guyana are secure, safe and quality- assured,” Dr. Adu-Krow said, adding: “So if you get a positive; it’s a true positive… All the testing kits that we have go through a quality assurance first, then go through PAHO. And then it comes here, monitored, temperature-sensitive monitored. So by the time we get them, we know they are in good stead.”

As he went on to say, “To the best of my knowledge, the kits that were graciously given by the Government of China came to us about six to eight weeks ago. Those were used, and we did not have any problems. Now, there is someone suddenly saying we are getting increases because of that; that is a lie.”
He said that to prove the accuracy of the test results obtained here, the PAHO/WHO has advised that the government send the last of every 50 tests, which would be the 50th one, to a laboratory outside of Guyana to be re-processed.

He is also advising the public against entertaining the notion that being re-tested at a private health institution will produce a different result. As he was at pains to explain, the testing provided by the government is a PCR one, short for polymerase chain reaction, which, in medical ‘lingo’, means it is a molecular-driven test with about a 99 per cent accuracy. “If you go and test at a private institution, with an antibody-antigen test they may use, it is not as sensitive as a PCR test, and that is why the government is sticking to PCR, “ Dr Adu-Krow said, adding: “That is also why the WHO has not pre-approved any of the antibody-antigen tests as yet.”

He noted that since widespread testing has been increased, the number of positive cases being identified is a true reflection of the COVID-19 situation in the country.
Nevertheless he is urging all Guyanese to pay heed in the statics, and refrain from sharing unconfirmed and false information about the virus, as such information will only incite fear and anxiety in an already uncertain situation.
He also urged Guyanese to adhere to the necessary guidelines to protect themselves and others from contracting the virus.