Page 9 - NIH Bulletin Vol. 16 December 2020

SPECIAL EDITION: BATTLING COVID-19

SEROLOGICAL ASSAYS

Serological assays for COVID-19 is
useful to determine immune response
against COVID-19. There are a few types
of serological assays available including
ELISA based total antibodies detection
test, rapid detection tests for both IgG/
IgM or viral antigen. Serological assays
that detects antibodies cannot be
used as a diagnostic assay for COVID-19
but is useful to determine whether
an individual has been exposed to
COVID-19. Ideally, a better indication of
exposure is the use of an IgG assay that
can detect and measure neutralizing
antibodies which indicates possible
protectiveness against re-infection of
COVID-19. Usually the method of choice
for the detection of IgG/IgM is the ELISA
platform. This method is very useful for
high throughput performance where
up to 92 samples can be tested in a
single batch. The other options for qPCR. The COVID-19 testing laboratory equipped with new equipment. This
serological tests are the use of rapid in IMR Jalan Pahang had a daily facility for COVID-19 testing boast of
antibody or antigen test, which is useful capacity of about 800-1000 per day. In automation in the RNA extraction as
when results are needed urgently or in line with Ministry of Health’s aspiration well as semi-automation in the master
settings with low resources. to increase laboratory capacity testing mix preparations. With this set-up, the
of COVID-19, on 5 May 2020, the testing capacity increased from 1000
IMR has come a long way since the COVID-19 testing in IMR was moved to 5000 tests daily which has greatly
initial testing of COVID-19 on 25 January from Jalan Pahang to Setia Alam increased overall national testing
2020 using in house developed RT- known as the BGI Fire Eye Laboratory, capacity.

The official visit by the Minister of Health Malaysia to Virology Unit, Laboratory staff operating the automated RNA extraction reagents,
IMR, Jalan Pahang. in IMR, NIH Setia Alam.

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