PCR Test before 5 days of incubation period likely to give false result: Health Ministry

Kathmandu: The Ministry of Health and Population has said that PCR test for coronavirus if taken too early gives false report. The ministry made this revelation after observing that it takes at least five to seven days of incubation period for proper detection of the virus.

“The people who have come in close contact with infected person need to collect the swab samples between five to seven days of contact,” said Dr Jageshwar Gautam, spokesperson at the health ministry.

“If we test the possible suspect in the initial days, the result usually comes ‘false negative’. So, the person has to wait for five to seven days and stay in quarantine,” he added.

He also requested anyone who has come in contact with Covid-19 infected person to stay in quarantine to prevent the disease from spreading.

Meanwhile, the ministry has requested health care professionals of government hospitals to call 1115 and 1133 to collect PPEs. The health ministry made such announcement following concerns of health care professional regarding the unavailability of PPEs.

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During a regular press briefing, spokesperson Dr Gautam said health authorities have conducted 592,419 PCR tests in the country as of Saturday evening.

The results of 31,117 tests turned out positive for coronavirus while 18,350 infected persons have already recovered and returned home. The pandemic has claimed 146 lives in Nepal.

Swab collection from 14 hospitals in the valley

There are 14 swab collection centres in Kathmandu valley.

TU Teaching Hopital, Birendra Sainik Hospital, Civil Hospital, Star Hospital, Patan Hospital, Bir Hospital, Nepal Police Hospital, Bhaktapur Hospital, Balambu Hospital, HAMS Hospital, Nepal-China Friendship Hospital have been conducting PCR tests besides the National Public Health Laboratory in Teku.