Experts warn the public not to be afraid of getting tested for Covid-19 during the flu

Jakarta, CNN Indonesia —

Griffith University epidemiologist Dicky Budiman asks people not to be afraid to get tested covid-19 even in a state flu.

Dicky said that the COVID-19 test with an antigen swab or PCR on a person who had the flu would not make him positive for Covid-19. The reason is that these two test kits can distinguish between the COVID-19 virus and the virus that causes ordinary influenza.

“Flu is a different virus. So with a screening test, let alone PCR, or rapid test The antigens currently circulating will not make the flu person tested positive if there is no Covid-19 in his body,” said Dicky when contacted. CNNIndonesia.com, Sunday (4/7).

A similar statement was also made by the Council for the Association of Public Health Experts (IAKMI) Hermawan Saputra. He appealed to the public not to be afraid to test for COVID-19 with an antigen swab or PCR even though they are in a flu state.

This is because the antigen swab or PCR can distinguish between the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the common cold virus. This means that not necessarily people who have the flu are also exposed to COVID-19.

“Precisely now, in this pandemic situation, everything must be suspected of being COVID-19, as evidenced by both antigen and PCR tests,” said Hermawan.

However, if you use rapid test antibodies or serology in people who have the flu, then there is a possibility that the results will show positive for COVID-19.

Hermawan explained that this was because serological tests measured immunoglobulin levels, not finding out the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the body. This means that someone who has the flu if tested using a rapid antibody test can show a Covid-19 reactive result.

“The serological test is not able to distinguish whether it is a corona virus or not, so it is likely to be reactive,” said Hermawan.

However, the government’s current examination of COVID-19 is only with an antigen test or PCR swab. So, people still don’t need to be afraid of the results of the Covid-19 test because the tools used today are more accurate than the antibody tests that were used in the past.

The public is also asked not to be afraid of being tested for COVID-19 in order to help trace close contacts to break the chain of transmission. In addition, the sooner a positive patient is found, the faster the treatment will be.

“At times like this, that person should be tested, not not,” he said.

Previously, a 31-second TikTok video circulated that said people with flu and fever didn’t need to get tested for COVID-19 because they were definitely positive. The short video shows a man dressed as a police officer.

“So the conclusion is, if you are not in a fit condition, if you have a cold, your body feels stiff, don’t ever get rapid or swab, it will be positive,” he said

(mel/sfr)

[Gambas:Video CNN]

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