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We will discuss with Cho Dong-chan, a medical professional reporter, about whether the newly introduced medical system will have any gaps and if so, how to supplement it.



Q. Is the rapid antigen test less accurate?



[Cho Dong-chan / Medical reporter (specialist): The Society of Diagnostic Laboratory Medicine talked about it.

It is the sensitivity of the rapid antigen test, the probability that a person with the actual corona will come out positive.

However, when I asked the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, they found that the sensitivity of the three rapid antigen test products approved in Korea was over 80% for professionals and over 90% for individuals.

When I looked at 19 European countries that released testing methods, only 5 countries, including Germany and Turkey, only conducted PCR testing.

14 countries, including the UK, Switzerland, and Spain, also do the rapid antigen test, and the United States and Canada also did it.

The National Medical Center's Emerging Infectious Diseases Clinical Committee also announced that rapid antigen testing should be expanded.

If the number of confirmed cases increases, PCR cannot handle it. However, as pointed out by the Society, gaps that rapid antigen testing can miss must be filled.]



Q. Repeated testing is the answer?



[Cho Dong-chan / Medical reporter (specialist): The American Journal of Internal Medicine, NEJM, presented a solution.

Even if the self-test is negative, if symptoms remain, the test is performed again. If you have been in contact with an infected person, even if you have no symptoms, you must be tested within 5 to 7 days from that day.

It is repetition to fill in the gaps where accuracy may drop.]



Q. Is there enough room for home treatment?



[Cho Dong-chan/Medical Correspondent (specialist): Currently, the respiratory clinic and dedicated hospital are in charge of home treatment.

The current trend is likely to exceed it soon.

Therefore, cooperation with local lawmakers is urgent, and it seems that the strict regulations need to be adjusted to fit the reality.

We should increase the participation of local hospitals by dealing with negative pressure facilities with natural ventilation or by loosening the wearing of 4 types of protective equipment.

Above all, we need to lead cooperation with existing hospitals and 119 so that there is no gap at night.]



Q. How to prepare for seriously ill patients?



[Cho Dong-chan / Medical Correspondent (specialist): Home-treated patients are also monitoring oxygen saturation.

When a lung CT scan is taken of a patient with low oxygen saturation, it is said that the time for mild administration is often missed because it has already turned white and severe.

Medical staff need to take X-rays or CT scans smoothly for high-risk patients, but it is very difficult to take a CT scan for a confirmed corona virus.

It is difficult to isolate general patients, but it seems that the number of early drug administrations can increase only if this problem is solved.]



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