Controller of the PNG COVID-19 National Pandemic Response David Manning has issued a new direction on the use of Panbio COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Diagnostic Test (Ag-RDT) for COVID-19.

Mr Manning has authorised the Port Moresby General Hospital, all Provincial Health Authorities and all private health facilities and hospitals to use Panbio COVID-19 Ag-RDT to test suspected case of COVID-19.

Certain conditions have been placed on this authorization including:

1. Testing to be limited to the following classes of person:

a. Persons who have been symptomatic as per the case definition (Measure 8), for seven (7) days or less; and

b. Close contacts.

2. Ag-RDT is not to be used for mass testing or screening of asymptomatic people, except in accordance with the Measures;

3. All tests are to be confirmed by RT-PCR or GeneXpert COVID-19 tests;

4. All positive test results must be immediately confirmed by GeneXpert COVID-19 test if possible or RT-PCR; and

5. All persons who test positive shall be isolated and treated as a positive COVID-19 case until confirmatory test is received according to paragraph 4.

This direction was issued on March 23 and remains in effect until further notice.