Bahrain will be the first country to receive a 10-minute rapid self-testing kit for the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19), confirmed a top official last night, writes Raji Unnikrishnan.

BDF Hospital infectious diseases consultant and microbiologist and Covid-19 Control and Monitoring Committee Head Lt Col Dr Manaf Al Qahtani confirmed the announcement made on UK’s Channel 4 News on Friday.

It said a British company has developed a rapid diagnostic self-testing kit for Covid-19, the first set of which will be sent to Bahrain.

“Yes, we are receiving the first set of kits on Wednesday, which will be used on a select proportion of the population as per protocol,” said Dr Al Qahtani in response to the GDN’s query at a Press conference held at the Crown Prince Centre for Training and Medical Research.

“We have to follow the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis to validate this,” he added.

“The advanced examination slides will be tested upon arrival, as we will be the first country to be using this.”

PCR analysis is a laboratory technique conducted to find small amounts of DNA in a sample, using a process known as amplification.

During PCR amplification, the DNA of interest is copied repeatedly until there is enough of it for analysis and detection.

According to Channel 4 News the kits will be distributed around the UK for use by healthcare professionals, so that pharmacists are able to test their staff.

“The company prepared the highly sought-after kits – and have been told that they hope to make the self-testing kits available to the public within three weeks,” said the news outlet.

“The company says results can be obtained in around 10 minutes.

“Currently, the NHS testing takes four hours. The new kit works in the same way blood sugar is tested by using a pin prick on patients’ thumbs.”

The channel added that the company has requested not to reveal their name or the location where they are based for the time being.