'Alpha, Beta, Gamma' Variant Viruses Shift to 'Confirmatory Testing'... Ulsan Institute of Health and Environment Enhances Screening Test Accuracy for Rapid Response

On the 13th, citizens lined up to get tested at the temporary screening clinic at Seoul Express Bus Terminal. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] Ulsan City Health and Environment Research Institute announced on the 14th that it has switched from screening tests to confirmatory tests for the three COVID-19 variants (Alpha, Beta, Gamma) since the 8th.

Until now, variant virus identification involved screening tests conducted by the institute, with the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency confirming the variant status as final.

However, due to the high accuracy of the screening tests conducted for monitoring purposes, the institute can now make the final confirmation of the three major variants based on its own test results.

By switching to confirmatory testing, the institute can quickly grasp the local variant virus outbreak situation and promptly respond to patient and contact management.

Previously, the institute conducted a total of 183 screening tests for the three variants starting from May 20.

The test results detected 15 cases of Alpha (UK), 1 case of Beta (South Africa), and 1 case of Gamma (Brazil).

The test results were provided as data to proactively respond to the spread of variant viruses in the region.

A representative of the Ulsan Health and Environment Research Institute said, “We will do our best to block the spread in the community through rapid and accurate testing of highly transmissible COVID-19 variants.”

The institute plans to conduct screening tests for the rapidly spreading ‘Delta variant’ mainly in the metropolitan area, and if the screening test results are highly accurate, it will switch to confirmatory testing.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.