Mass testing has been one of the best ways to combat the coronavirus pandemic that has gripped the world over.
Lawmakers, led by Senator Risa Hontiveros, have pushed for mass testing for the coronavirus disease known as COVID-19, saying “"Quarantines and social distancing, while important, are clearly only part of the solution. We can only end this pandemic if we identify, isolate and treat every person infected with COVID-19."
But the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test, the gold standard of COVID-19 testing more popularly known as the swab test, costs a fortune and isn't readily available to the masses.
Fortunately, there is an alternative that is cheaper, yields results in minutes and within reach of everyone—the BOSON Rapid nCov Combo Test.
Distributed in the Philippines by Jenka Global OPC and manufactured by Xiamen Boson Biotech Co., the BOSON Rapid nCov Combo Test, is a Food and Drug Administration-approved immunochromatography-based, one step in vitro test designed for the rapid qualitative determination of IgG and IgM antibodies to the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV. SARS-CoV-2) in human serum, plasma or blood.
The Rapid 2019-nCoV IgG/IgM Combo Test Card is a fabulous supplement detection for COVID-19-suspected infected patients besides the nucleic acid test, which could greatly raise the accuracy of the detection for COVID-19.
COVID-19 is an acute infectious disease caused by the 2019 novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), with an incubation period of one to 14 days, mostly 3 to 7 days. The incubation period is infectious. Asymptomatic infections may also be the source of infection. Respiratory droplets and contact are the main routes of transmission. The initial symptoms of the patients were fever, fatigue and cough, and gradually developed dyspnea and other serious manifestations. Most of the patients have a good prognosis, some of the severe cases may have acute respiratory distress syndrome or septic shock, or even death. At present, there is no specific treatment for the disease.
There are several days of incubation period after being infected by 2019-nCoV. But IgM antibodies can be detected soon after the incubation period and are kept for a short time. Those IgM-positive in blood samples can be an indicator of acute infection. IgG antibodies appear after few days of incubation period and are kept for a long time. Those IgG positives in blood samples can be an indicator of infected or previous infection.
The Rapid 2019-nCoV IgG/IgM Combo Test Card utilizes the principle of immunochromatography. Anti- human IgM and human IgG antibodies are immobilized on the nitrocellulose membrane respectively, as two individual test lines (IgM line and IgG line) in the test window of the test device. The IgM line in the test window is closer to the sample well and followed by the IgG line. As the test sample flows through the membrane within the test device, the colored-2019-nCoV antigen-colloidal gold conjugate complexes with specific antibodies (IgM and/or IgG) of the 2019 novel coronavirus, if present in the sample. This complex moves further on the membrane to the test region where it is captured by the anti-human IgM and/or human IgG antibodies coated on the membrane leading to formation of a colored band, which indicates a positive test results. Absence of this colored band in the test window indicates a negative test result. A built-in control line will always appear in the test window when the test has performed properly, regardless of the presence or absence of anti-2019 novel coronavirus antibodies in the specimen.
The way the BOSON Rapid nCov Combo Test works may sound complicated, but its results can be obtained in as little as 15 minutes, with strong positive samples showing faster results.
Sen. Hontiveros, during her call for mass testing, urged the government that asymptomatic individuals should be tested, too.
"Malinaw na hindi dapat limitado sa mga taong may malalang sintomas ng COVID-19 ang ginagawang testing ng pamahalaan para matigil ang pagkalat ng sakit na ito," she said in a statement. “Mass testing requires ramped up local production of testing kits and capacitated regional testing centers in the Visayas and Mindanao.”
That call got the boost it deserved from no less than COVID-19 survivor Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri, who distributed 6,000 BOSON Rapid nCov Combo Test kits to hospitals in Mindanao.
The senator said that testings should not only be focused in Metro Manila so that the spread of the virus will be prevented in other areas.
“If we only focus on Metro Manila, we cannot defeat COVID-19. The longer we hold other regions back from massive testing, the higher the chances that the virus will continue to spread there, even with community quarantine,” said Senator Zubiri, who tested positive for the virus after being exposed to an infected person in a Senate hearing. “We can’t afford for that to happen. We must address this as soon as possible. I know the gold standard of testing for COVID-19 are the PCR test kits, like those we donated to PGH. But in the absence of accredited laboratories across the country, these rapid test kits will have to do for now.”
BOSON Rapid nCov Combo Test Philippine distributor Jenka Global OPC is an importer, exporter, trader, distributor and wholesaler of wide variety of products including but not limited to essential and non-essential items like food and beverage, personal care and cosmetics, toiletries, health and fitness products, baby products, pet food, and medicine and medical/fitness device, among others. The company specializes on sourcing global quality and innovative products to offer to the local Philippine market. It is comprised of a team of experts in Export/Import Management, Market Research, and Sales and Distribution.
For more information about Boson Rapid n-Cov IgG/IgM Combo Test, you may email [email protected].
