Wisma Atlet Hospital Studies Early COVID-19 Detection via Eye Swabs
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21 December 2020 20:55 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Wisma Atlet Kemayoran Emergency Hospital conducted research on early detection of COVID-19 through observation and swab tests on the eyes.
“This can be a fast and inexpensive screening to detect people infected with COVID-19, which is accelerating the pandemic handling,” said the coordinator of the hospital or RSDC-19, Maj. Gen. Dr. dr. Tugas Ratmono, in Jakarta on Monday, December 21, 2020.
RSDC-19 found a high percentage of eye problems that preceded systemic symptoms of people with the coronavirus disease. The hypothesis of this study was that SARS CoV-2 spreads to the eyes as they are connected with the nasal cavity via a channel.
The research team, led by dr. Rina La Distia Nora, Sp.M (K)., Ph.D., hoped the swab tests could be done through an eye swab or conjunctival swab. The sample will then be examined via RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) similar to the sample examinations from nasal and throat swabs.
Wisma Atlet Kemayoran Hospital, Tugas went on, was supporting the study so that it could be applied to the detection process of COVID-19 infection.
“This research is highly necessary to explore the knowledge, not only about COVID-19 but also strategic approaches in the future to contain health threats,” Tugas said.
Read: COVID-19 Surge, Wisma Atlet Tower 4 Converted for Hospitalization
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