Belize Medical Associates conduct rapid test for flu strains
The Director of Health Services, Dr. Michael Pitts, has sent samples to be tested at CAREC in Trinidad for the Influenza that has caused many deaths in the Americas and have sickened individuals on several continents. While some sick individuals are very concerned about whether or not they have the H1N1 flu, the Belize Medical Associates has a test that screens for some types of influenza. Dr. Marcelo Coyi explains how the rapid test works and who may receive it.
Dr. Marcelo Coyi, Belize Medical Associates
“The rapid test is exactly that, we call it an immunoacid it uses antigen antibody technology to identify the antigen which in the case is the Influenza A or Influenza B. It is a rapid test; it has the results within half an hour. We had a discussion with the Director of Healthcare about mid-day today and we discussed the guidelines and certainly it is a screening test, it’s not a diagnostic test.”
Jose Sanchez
“Is it 100 percent accurate?”
Dr. Marcelo Coyi
“No. It varies upon the studies between sixty-five to ninety percent. Not a diagnostic test, that you must remember, which means it has a margin of error. The gold standard in terms of making a confirmation is a viral culture or the P.C.R. which is been done in CAREC right now. We also discussed that the test as we mentioned is for screening is that then it will not be available for the general public to come to say, “I want a rapid test.” It has to be ordered by a medical practitioner and the result will be give to the medical practitioner who will then use it to interpret it knowing the accuracy of it or the sensitivity or specifics of it, to use that to discuss with the patient as to how he will use it to begin to treat. Where ever we do a rapid test on a person that is a suspicious case, we at the same time do a viral culture to sent to CAREC. So we will not use the rapid test alone, it has to be concurrently with what we send to CAREC.”
If it is recommended that you or a family member take the rapid test, it costs sixty-five dollars.
