1st coronavirus test carried out in Armenia: It was negative

The first analysis for the new coronavirus 2019-nCoV was carried out Monday using reagents received last night from Russia, Deputy Director General of the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention Nune Bakunts and the Head of the Virology Laboratory at the same center Shushan Sargsyan told reporters on Monday.

The patient, according to experts, returned from China, and he had a high fever. He was tested for influenza, some acute respiratory viral infections and coronavirus, the results of all tests were negative.

Experts noted Armenia has received 200 laboratory tests for coronavirus, and it is planned to use them for patients who have symptoms indicating a possible coronavirus infection and who have visited China over the past 2 weeks.

According to experts, sputum samples from the patient’s nose and pharynx are examined (only a specialist can take samples, observing safety precautions). The analysis takes about 3-4 hours and is done by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The PCR method itself has been used in Armenia for a long time, however, special reagents were required for analysis on a new coronavirus, which were not available until yesterday.

The analysis is free of charge for patients who meet the requirements described above, as part of anti-epidemiological measures.

Follow NEWS.am Medicine on Facebook and Twitter