New PCR Test Equipment to Detect Omicron Variant in Less Than 6 Hours Provided: Indonesian Minister

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The government will distribute polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test equipment with new technology that can detect omicron variant in four to six hours, Health Minister said on Monday, Dec. 27.

Budi Gunadi Sadikin said that the new technology uses a PCR reagent with the S-gene target failure (SGTF) method to detect the Covid-19 omicron variant in four to six hours.

"We have distributed the new equipment to all international main entry points to identify omicron variant in only four to six hours. It is faster than the whole-genome sequencing method of three to five days," Budi told a press conference on Monday, Dec. 27.

Also read: Indonesia Starts Domestic Production of PCR Test Kits

Besides the new technology PCR test equipment, Budi also said that the government is scheduled to bring in 15 whole-genome sequencing tools in early 2022.

The tools to detect the Covid-19 virus will later be sent to all big islands in Indonesia.
"We will distribute the equipment to the islands in Indonesia, including Sumatera, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Molucca, and Papua so that the genome sequencing tests will be implemented faster."

He went on to say that his party has provided treatment places in hospitals, medicines, and medical oxygen to anticipate the Covid-19 surge.

"We have installed over 16,000 oxygen generators with 31 oxygen concentrators, but we hope the resurgence is not going to happen.

(Writer: Haryanti Puspa Sari | Editor: Diamanty Meiliana)

Source: https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2021/12/27/10324211/menkes-siapkan-alat-tes-pcr-teknologi-baru-deteksi-varian-omicron-4-6-jam