DUSHANBE, 13.05.2020. (NIAT Khovar) – The WHO is recommending that Tajikistan expand its COVID-19 testing capacity.

“Currently, the WHO and the Tajik Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population are discussing the issue relating to raising the capacity level of existing laboratories and attracting mobile laboratories,” said the head of the WHO mission Patrick O’Connor at an online briefing in Dushanbe which took place yesterday.

According to him, this will improve the situation, expand the range of services and the waiting time for test results.

According to the WHO representatives’ observations, currently the maximum number of tests that can be performed daily with the available laboratory potential is 230-250.

“The first to be tested in Tajikistan were the 46 students who arrived from Wuhan.  They were tested on February 11. Today, the republic has 44,000 testing systems at its disposal, which have been provided by Russia, China and Germany. As of yesterday, 7,700 people have been tested, of which 661 people showed a positive result,” said the First Deputy Minister of Health and Social Protection of the Population of Tajikistan Saida Umarzoda.

Regarding the effectiveness of these tests, it was noted that the sensitivity of the tests, regardless of the country of origin, is almost the same. Judging by the tests done in Tajikistan, it can be said that they have 80% accuracy rate. Therefore, it is recommended that those suspected of having the coronavirus also go through tomography and ultrasound of the lungs for a more accurate diagnosis.

The effectiveness of testing is high in the early stages of infection. When pneumonia begins, on the 5-6th day, the virus disappears from the upper respiratory tract, so tests could give a negative result.

All doctors who are treating patients infected with coronavirus undergo mandatory testing.