KATHMANDU: The government has launched a ‘more efficient’ and faster way of testing coronavirus to get an instant report.

According to Dr. Basu Dev Pandey, ‘antigen’ method has been introduced as this method gives the report instantly and is effective when the test has to be carried out at community level.

Pandey informed that the tests have already started in five places in Kathmandu from Monday morning.

He added that the test is launched free of cost with the support of WHO and would be expanded to other parts of the country considering its effectiveness.

“We have launched the antigen test campaign from Kathmandu Valley, and will expand it to other parts of the country evaluating its effectiveness,” Pandey shared the plans ahead.

He further added that as the sensitivity of this ‘antigen’ test is better than  PCR, it is more reliable. What’s more, the report also comes within 30 minutes.

According to him the test is initiated from Ward 4, 7 and 9 where the coronavirus case concentration seems higher than in other places.

Now Kathmandu valley will tests around 500 cases through antigen method everyday. Today the test is going on in Gaurighat, Chabahil, Bishalnagar, Dhumbarahi, Battisputali and Mitrapark area in Kathmandu.

Why antigen test?

Antigen test is quicker and more efficient in the sense that the swabs need not be sent to any labs for test, does not need any special tool and the report comes instantly.

According to Dr. Pandey, the swab collected from nose and throat is placed in a small thermometer like device known as ‘rapid antigen kit’.

If the line appears in a while, that means, the person is coronavirus positive and if no change occurs the person does not have coronavirus till then.