Minister, MP also fall victim to false negative self-test kits

PARLIAMENT | Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi and Che Abdullah Mat Nawi (PAS-Tumpat) have become the latest 'victims' of false negative readings from Covid-19 self-test kits.

During the question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today, they shared their experience after Cha Kee Chin (Pakatan Harapan-Rasah) urged the government to tackle possible counterfeit self-test kits following the approval of numerous brands by the Medical Device Authority (MDA) for the consumer market.

Che Abdullah revealed that a saliva-based self-test kit he used showed negative results even though he experienced Covid-19 symptoms that lasted for three days.

"The saliva-based test kits I used every morning and evening showed negative results, but when I conducted an RT-PCR test, it turned out positive. This is detrimental to the consumers," he said.

While noting that the matter falls under the jurisdiction of the Health Ministry, Alexander (above) also said he had the same experience as Che Abdullah.

Tumpat MP Che Abdullah Mat Nawi

"Indeed, we are made to understand the saliva-based test kit is less accurate than the RT-PCR test. I was admitted to Sungai Buloh Hospital in February due to Covid-19. I was allowed to be discharged from the hospital as I was no longer infectious.

"Three weeks later and before Parliament was to sit again, the instruction was for us to take a PCR test and I was found to be positive. The virus can stay in the body for 90 days,” he said.

The minister lamented that prior to that he had self-tested every day and received negative results when he was in fact positive as shown by the RT-PCR test.

Che Abdullah urged the government to advise consumers against using the saliva-based test kits, which often gave false results.

Self-test kit review

It was reported that the Health Ministry had instructed the MDA to call all suppliers of Covid-19 self-test kits in the country following complaints that they were showing dubious results.

Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said an assessment would also be made on dubious test kits in the market to determine that there was no drop in quality from the time they were approved till now.

Based on data sourced from the Health Ministry up to March 10, 125 Covid-19 self-test kits had been given conditional approval by the MDA.

Alexander also said the government was looking into the need to review the price ceiling for the self-test kits.

The ceiling price was set at RM19.90 per kit, while RM16 was for wholesale purchases. - Mkini