(Editor's note: An earlier version which stated "Case 1580" as "Case 1530" has been corrected. The error is regretted.)&nbsp;CORONAVIRUS | Health Director-General Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah today explained why the ministry discourages using antibody tests to detect Covid-19 infection.Using Case 1,031 as an example, he shared how the patient was discharged after testing <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://newslab.malaysiakini.com/covid-19/en/patients">negative</a> for an antibody test.One day after she was discharged, the patient died from the virus and subsequently infected her family members. Four of them have since passed away due to Covid-19 infection. “At the time, she was warded in a private healthcare facility and they used an antibody test on her. They also did a RT-PCR test. “But when the antibody test came out negative, they discharged the patient. This is even though they didn’t have results for the RT-PCR test yet [...] “It (the antibody) didn’t manage to detect the virus [...] and when she went home she infected her family members,” Noor Hisham said. Thus, the inability of an antibody test to detect infections at an early stage was the reason RT-PCR and antigen tests were preferred.“This is one factor why we don’t encourage using rapid test kits that use antibodies, or what is called a serology test,” he said. <div class="medium-insert-images"><figure><img src="https://i.ncdn.xyz/publisher-c1a3f893382d2b2f8a9aa22a654d9c97/2020/04/28b0c997d5a7d81047890f62a02839e7.jpg" alt=""></figure></div>An elderly woman, Case 1031 was only confirmed positive for Covid-19 three days after her death. Health authorities have since learned that she contracted the virus from her daughter. Her daughter had been infected by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/518938" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Case 1580</a> - a colleague who had a recent travel history to Italy.Cutting turnaround time Noor Hisham also shared that the ministry has been evaluating <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://m.malaysiakini.com/news/518828">antigen rapid test kits</a> that can produce results in under two hours.A rapid test can be performed at healthcare facilities without the need of a laboratory. “If the antigen rapid test kit that we are testing now has high accuracy and reliability, perhaps we can use it at point of care,” he said.A RT-PCR test usually takes more than a day as samples need to be transported to a laboratory. The long turnaround time has caused a backlog in both samples that need to be tested, and in reporting the results.&nbsp;<hr>Keep up with the latest information on the outbreak in the country with Malaysiakini's free <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://newslab.malaysiakini.com/covid-19/en&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1585575001345000&amp;usg=AFQjCNEeaJMtwl2pG-1dsHXqmlZGLrZi9g" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://newslab.malaysiakini.com/covid-19/en">Covid-19 tracker</a>.Malaysiakini is providing free access to the most important updates on the coronavirus pandemic. You can find them <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.malaysiakini.com/stories/covid19&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1585575001345000&amp;usg=AFQjCNHCxEHmq1qKYJDzphlCXMF9QH0i8A" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.malaysiakini.com/stories/covid19">here</a>.Help keep independent media alive - <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://membership.malaysiakini.com/membership?lang%3Den&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1585575001345000&amp;usg=AFQjCNHVH1inQ845Iudj-7JSxHTnKh4e7g" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://membership.malaysiakini.com/membership?lang=en">subscribe</a> to Malaysiakini.&nbsp;

CORONAVIRUS | Inability of antibody test to detect infections at an early stage is the reason RT-PCR, antigen tests are preferred, says Noor Hisham.

Antibody test missed Covid-19 infection, contributed to spread in S'wak

CORONAVIRUS | Cops seize laptops, printers and a blank template for the result slip which features the letterhead of a private lab.

Police bust ring producing fake Covid-19 test results

‘Don’t play politics, it will come back to bite you.’

YOURSAY | Projects in peril when Putrajaya resorts to politicking

Police say the woman was also aggressive and refused to cooperate.

Woman among seven nabbed in 'Op Mabuk' operation in Selangor

KINI ROUNDUP | Here are key headlines you may have missed yesterday, in brief.

Harapan to skip Chini by-election and 10 news from yesterday

Benchmark Brent crude climbed to a three-month high on Friday above US$42 a barrel, after diving below US$20 in April.

Opec, Russia extend record oil cuts to end of July

Protests over the killing of George Floyd by police continue across the US for the 12th day.

'We can't take much more': Protests swell in Washington and other cities

We cannot blame them because they are forced to live in cramped conditions, it says in a Facebook post.

Don't blame migrant workers for Covid-19 spike, says Health Ministry

The former education minister had reportedly been removed as division head yesterday.

Simpang Renggam Bersatu rejects Muhyiddin's pick to replace Maszlee

To this day the government has yet to take proactive measures to save the airline sector, says A Sivanesan

Covid-19: DAP rep urges ministers to tackle plight of airline industry workers

As long the amount is not something we think we can accept, then we continue with the legal case, says finance minister.

Zafrul says Goldman's US$3b not enough to settle 1MDB case

Azmin camp strikes another blow on Harapan in numbers game

Mahathir meets Harapan, Warisan leaders but PKR is no show

Dr M says has no problem with Anwar but unsure if feeling is mutual

Johor sultan threatens snap polls if there is another power struggle

I'm not resigning, declares Redzuan... again

Complicated to produce defence that Najib is scam victim - Shafee

Minister moots anti-hopping law to end debate on political coup

Saifuddin aborts directive to grant 5G bands without tender

Authenticity of 'Arab donation' not relevant, key is Najib's belief - defence

Bersatu supreme council affirms 'immediate' termination of Dr M's membership

Slim majority with 'bought MPs' - king can dissolve Parliament, says Najib

We're ready for GE15 - Zahid says after meeting Najib

Deputy works minister quits amid turmoil in Bersatu

S'wak's Lubok Antu MP quits PKR, says will now back PN

Stop using MACC to harass opposition or I will expose gov't's wrongdoings - Dr M

Johor Harapan upholds royal decree as plans to seize back power ripen

Bersatu supreme council meeting tonight, again without Dr M

Meeting with Dr M not official, Harapan still strong - Saifuddin Nasution

Musa Hassan appointed as USIM director two days after GLC tweet

Report: MACC says 'no political motive' behind Bersatu Youth member's arrest

Johor ruler’s power to dissolve assembly not absolute, says MP

Muhyiddin's axe falls on three Bersatu leaders aligned to Dr M

Mahathir alludes to failed attempt to replace Health DG with politician

Johor Bersatu reps meet Muhyiddin after sultan threatens snap polls

COMMENT | Harapan’s comeback window could soon close

Will Redzuan resign? All eyes on 4.30pm presser

Muhyiddin vs Mahathir - Bersatu divisions continue to split

YOURSAY | Truth of Dr M’s role in pullout from Harapan emerges

Record high of 277 new Covid-19 cases, including 6 M'sians

Shahruddin meets Dr M, dodges poser on who he supports

Four Bersatu leaders stage walkout at supreme council meeting

PM unveils short-term economic recovery plan

Out the window with Najib's signature forged claim - prosecution

Bersatu supreme council meeting tonight invalid, claims Kadir Jasin

Salahuddin: I'm firmly with Amanah, PN cybertroopers desperate

Youth exco: Muhyiddin rejected Zahid's offer for Bersatu to join Umno

Maria Chin: Arrest of hospital workers is shameful

Ex-Warisan minister, former deputy appointed Sabah GLC posts

Hair salons, barbers, pasar malam to reopen with strict rules

Guidelines for reopening schools released, only Form Six and Five for now

Petronas CEO moved to MAS, PM says to ensure policy and objectives

Covid-19: 37 new infections, 1 new death

Antibody test missed Covid-19 infection, contributed to spread in S'wak

Share this story

TERMS & CONDITIONS

REPORT VIOLATORS

ABOUT

DIGITAL NETWORK

TERMS OF USE

GENERAL LINE

SUBSCRIPTION / TECH SUPPORT

EDITORIAL

LOCATION

RSS FEEDS

DAILY NEWS DIGEST