THE Antigen Rapid Test Kit (RTK-Ag) should be used in the government’s Safe@Work initiative to create work “bubbles” in companies with Covid-19 infections, a health expert said.

Relying on the Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test to clear employees of infection takes time, whereas RTK-Ag tests can be done on workers who are close contacts of positive cases as many times as needed.

The initiative to create safe work bubbles is meant to allow employees in the manufacturing sector to continue working after a Covid-19 case is detected.

Close contacts are to be isolated in separate accommodation quarters away from other workers for seven to 10 days, but will still be allowed to work so that operations and productivity are not disrupted.

Professor Dr Sazaly Abu Bakar, director of the Tropical Infectious Diseases Research and Education Centre at University Malaya, said the RTK-Ag test would be useful in such situations.

“The RTK-Ag can be used for screening to find out if close contacts have already been infected with the virus (and has the antibodies),” he told The Malaysian Insight.

The Safe@Work initiative was announced by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on March 17.

In protocols by the International Trade and Industry Ministry, only the RT-PCR test is mentioned for close contacts with a Covid-19 positive case. The test, which takes at least two days for results to be released, can only be done by health district offices or Health Ministry-approved private clinics.

Workers who are isolated in separate accommodation cannot leave the quarters until they clear two RT-PCR tests.

Employers are also to bear the costs fully, although they can be eligible for tax cuts as an incentive.

“The price of RT-PCR testing is more than double than that of the RTK-Ag test. Some antigen detection reagents have high sensitivity,” said Sazaly.

The RTK-Ag test is also appropriate, and cheaper, if Miti wants its real-time contact tracing system to work effectively, he added.

“It is even possible to carry out antigen screening at the workplace and also at the living quarters, which is cheaper and does not require the use of front-line personnel from the Health Ministry nor require the payment of doctor fees.

“In contrast to having all close contacts undergo RT-PCR tests, the government can require employers to arrange multiple RTK-Antigen within the seven to 10 days.

“Only those who test positive for the antigen will be sent for RT-PCR testing for further confirmation. This can reduce costs and the burden on frontl-ine personnel,” Sazaly said.

Under the Safe@Work protocols, manufacturing companies are also required to appoint a Preparedness and Emergency Response Team (PERT) to ensure that companies comply with the standard operating procedure set by the National Security Council, to coordinate Covid-19 pandemic prevention measures in the workplace, and to fully implement the Safe@Work plan.

According to the guidelines, the PERT must immediately report the identity of the close contacts to the nearby health district office and arrange for them to undergo RT-PCR screening.

The PERT must also arrange the close contacts’ isolation venue, and strictly control the entry and exit of this group.

If employees choose to be isolated at home, they cannot participate in the Safe@Work initiative and cannot leave their homes until they clear the second RT-PCR test.

Workers who are close contacts will also be required to wear a yellow bracelet, while the positive cases must wear a pink bracelet.

Dr Christopher Lee, chairman of the National Covid-19 Mortality Review Committee, said these work bubbles can help limit the risk of infection in workplaces.

“If there is a new infection, it will also be limited to this bubble, and it will also make detection and tracking easier and faster.”

But the bubble concept will only work if everyone plays their part.

“Working in a group also allows them to better supervise and strengthen all members’ sense of responsibility to ensure the safety of this bubble,” he said. – March 26, 2021.