Why rapid diagnostic kit for COVID-19 is not used in korea?

First-line hospital leaders, it is not enough to apply them all, why limit it in Korea?

The diagnostic industry, must apply both antigen-antibody tests for now

“The current diagnosis method of COVID-19 is as if there are two diagnostic methods, MRI and X-ray, and it is said to use only MRI.

 

Even when it takes a lot of time and money”.

 

This is a metaphor for the reality that the Korea Small and Medium Hospital Association's Chairman Sang-il Kim (President H Plus Yangji Hospital), which is currently applying limited diagnostic methods in the COVID-19 crisis.

 

#The KSMHA invited five in-vitro diagnostics companies from the meeting room of the Korean Hospital Association on the afternoon of the 17th to discuss the exploration of the rapid test method in addition to the rt-PCR, a diagnosis method for suspected COVID-19.

 

The key point of the meeting was focused on how long the time-consuming and expensive rt-PCR diagnosis maintain when COVID-19 crisis dragged out for too long.

 

Particularly, Sang-il Kim, the chairman of insurance committee, the KHA and Cheol-jun Kim (Daejeon Wellness Hospital), the chairman of the Policy Board, the Korean Medical Corporation Association emphasized the need for a faster and more efficient method of diagnosing COVID-19 at the medical site.

 

The meeting was attended by Jeong-eun Lee, the vice president of Sugentech, Dong-jin Shin, the CEO of TCM bioScience, Min-jeon Lee, Access Bio’s Director, Yoon-suk Lee, Boditech , and Park Hee-kyung, the CEO of Seasun Biomaterial.

 

What they are trying to say is to allow more suspicious patients to be tested by granting approval for rapid tests other than the diagnosis of COVID-19 through rt-PCR.

 

According to the industry, at the beginning of COVID-19, the KCDC approved the use of rt-PCR methods of four bio-companies at the time of emergency use.

 

Other types of methods were excluded.

 

The introduction of the rt-PCR test in the early stages of COVID-19 was an appropriate measure, but these companies explained that as it has already spread to the community, it has become the stage to introduce an immune antibody test.

 

Immuno-antibody tests was difficult to introduce in the early stages of infection spread, because the patient's sample (blood) is needed to evaluate the test results.

 

However, as domestic sample data accumulates, it has been fully verified now.

 

In addition, IgM (immunoglobulin M, antibody proteins, the first antibody produced during infection), IgG (immunoglobulin G, the last antibody remaining until the last infection) in 10 minutes with a single drop of blood While all possible, the cost is inexpensive than the existing rt-PCR test.

 

In fact, China has already introduced an immune antibody test to confirm COVID-19, and the United States CDC also announced that it would seek a company capable of testing for immune antibodies.

 

Overseas authorities are worried because there are no companies with the technology, but it is time to review the introduction at this time because there are domestic companies that have products with technology.

 

Some companies have obtained European CE approval.

 

#There are opinions that first-line medical institutions also need to allow additional examination methods that are suitable.

 

Chairman kim said, "If dozens and hundreds of patients with underlying diseases in nursing homes have fever, they will not be accepted even if they are sent to an advanced hospital for an examination.

 

The situation in which the number of cases spread without knowing the infection was inevitably increased because the COVID-19 test was not carried out on time".

 

He said, "The problem is that we will not be able to stop school and religious activities for long time, and one day we will release the quarantine, I wonder if I can afford it with rt-PCR tests that require a lot of time and money.

 

I think we need another screening method".

 

His explanation is that it is not enough to mobilize all of the weapons to end the COVID-19, but the situation is limited to one weapon.

 

Chairman Chul-jun Kim also said, "Some scholars are more anxious because they are predicting that the current spread of infection may be abated for a while and then soar again this fall.

 

It is necessary to have a simple and efficient diagnostic kit product in preparation for prolongation".

 

Among them, the companies are preparing for export permission as the domestic COVID-19 diagnostic method is receiving worldwide attention and orders are rushing.

 

An official from a company attending the conference said, “With the global spread of COVID-19, orders are rushing to the point where overseas buyers want to receive products even for research purposes.

 

While preparing to export abroad, I hope many people in Korea will benefit from it".

 

In addition, Chairman Cheol-Joon Kim, who organized the meeting, said that he would go forward and continue to discuss the fundamental methods for resolving problems in the future and continue to discuss with government agencies in order to move to concrete implementation.

 

"The rt-PCR test and the rapid immunodiagnosis have different complementary functions, and this is used for optimal diagnosis according to the patient's situation in the clinical field, so the two diagnostic methods will be complementary to each other in COVID-19 crisis for a long time", he said.

 

He said, "In the current national emergency, we must take all possible measures to swiftly resolve the situation, to ensure patient safety, and to reduce the burden of medical expenses.

 

I would like the government to make a quick review so that the rapid biomedical testing kits of domestic bio companies, which are rushing to be introduced worldwide, can be used in medical fields as soon as possible".