← Back to list

Are Our Current RT-PCR and RTK-Antigen Tests Enough To Detect Omicron variant?

Nov 30, 2021

With the new Omicron Covid-19 variant posing a high risk of infection globally, you must be concerned about your health risk.

You must also be wondering…can our current RT-PCR and RTK- Antigen Covid-19 test kits detect the Omicron variant?

The answer is YES. 

The Health Minister says he was informed of this by experts at the Institute for Medical Research.

“However, studies into its effectiveness are still ongoing” says Khairy Jamaluddin.

So far, there are no Omicron cases here in Malaysia.

Khairy also says it is also too early to expect the movement control order to be reimposed following the emergence of Omicron.

“It is too early to talk about it. The public get angry when they hear the MCO. Our researchers are looking into this,” he says.

Image: Alamy Live News

Omicron, which was first reported in South Africa, has since been reported in a number of other countries including the Netherlands, UK and Belgium.

Keep yourselves safe by practising all Covid-19 SOPs and take the booster shot immediately when offered!

By Roshini Ravindran