Only 3 laboratories can test for COVID-19 in Lagos- Health Commissioner

Only three laboratories can test for the COVID-19 virus, Commissioner for Health in Lagos State, Prof. Akin Abayomi has said.

He gave this expose at a press briefing on Friday, stressing that the state was planning on increasing capacity to be able to carry out more tests.

Explaining how the COVID-19 test was carried out, the commissioner noted it did not involve any blood test. He said that the test was taken from respiratory secretions.

"We do the test from the respiratory secretions. That could either be from nose or mouth or we take a sample of saliva or sputum. We do not do a blood test for COVID-19. The test is specific and extremely accurate," Abayomi said.

"Our tests can define how much virus is in an infected person. It is very helpful to us as we determine when a patient is not contagious. Whenever we get a negative test, it means they are no longer secreting the virus," he added.

The commissioner also explained that negative tests must be repeated to be entirely sure that one is totally free and eligible for discharge.

*??"Our tests have the ability to define how much virus is in an infected person & help to determine how a patient is responding to treatment & when an infected person is completely not contagious" - @ProfAkinAbayomi @NigeriaGov@toluogunlesi @HenshawKate @08000Corona@Mr_JAGs pic.twitter.com/BbymWIsE24

— LSMOH (@LSMOH) March 27, 2020