We've Not Approved Rapid Diagnostics Test Kits For Coronavirus – FDA

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has announced that they are yet to give approval to any Rapid Diagnostics Test (RDTs) Kit for screening and diagnoses of Coronavirus (SARS CoV-2) in Ghana.

With 24 confirmed cases already in the country, the testing of what has been declared as a pandemic remains a bit of a challenge. Currently, it takes days for a case to be confirmed as negative or positive.

In other jurisdictions, the use of SARS-CoV-2 to test for the virus has been helpful as far as early detection is concerned as it gives results in less than an hour.

While there have been reports of the test kits being used in Ghana already, the FDA has issued a statement to deny giving approval in order to caution the public to ensure they are not deceived.

“The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) wishes to inform the general public that it has not registered Rapid Diagnostics Test (RTD) Kit for screening and diagnoses of Coronavirus (SARS CoV-2) in Ghana”, a statement issued on Monday, March 23, and signed by the Chief Executive Officer for the FDA, Mrs. Delese A.A Darko said.

It added, “The current tests for screening and diagnoses of the Coronavirus in Ghana approved by the Ministry of Health is the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PRC) tests”.

Below is the full statement from the Food and Drugs Authority.