The World Health Organization has just approved a very sensitive, rapid, and relatively accurate antigen test produced by a South Korean manufacturer that could be used for mass screening and in schools, universities, and workplaces, at a time when the leader of the free world, the president of the United States has been diagnosed to be corona-positive.
Another antigen rapid test manufactured by the American company Abbott is soon to be approved for use. Both tests are to be rolled out for worldwide use in developed countries as well as developing nations. The
the human armament in the on-going viral pandemic and successfully avert many a fatality, at a time when the entire developing world is struggling with death and economic destruction.
The approved diagnostic test is a rapid antigen test that is faster and easier, as well as cheaper. Both tests are being manufactured in South Korea, and are capable of delivering results within minutes rather than hours. Lucky for countries like Bangladesh, The Gates Foundation’s involvement has guaranteed availability of the test to low and middle income countries at a price less than $5 each.
The tests are part of the initiative launched by World Health Organization, the European Commission, the French government, and the Gates Foundation under the auspices of Access to Covid Tools Initiative (ACT accelerator). One of the tests produced by the South Korean Company SD BioSensor has been given emergency approval by the WHO and the one by Abbott will be approved shortly, both companies manufacturing the tests in South Korea.
In the vaccine front against the on-going pandemic, the media world is full of eye-catching headlines such as “China prepares to declare victory in global vaccine race -- and assures the world theirs is safe,” “Johnson and Johnson coronavirus vaccine shows response in 98% of test participants,” “Scientists to infect 24 people in the UK with genetically modified coronavirus to develop a live vaccine” and so on.
On the cautious side, the headline goes