Paid Coronavirus Testing is Unacceptable and Dangerous: Ministry of Health

Paid coronavirus testing is unacceptable and dangerous, as it is impossible to have full control over the process. This is stated by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Armenia, which informs that tests should only be conducted in laboratories approved by the ministry.

“Currently, cases are being registered where laboratories are conducting paid tests for coronavirus infection through PCR or rapid tests. In this described situation, testing for the coronavirus on a paid basis is unacceptable and dangerous, as it is impossible to ensure complete oversight of these activities. Laboratories may use various test kits with different sensitivities and specificities, which raises doubts about the reliability of the results obtained, the selection of the correct treatment strategy, and effectiveness, as well as creating uncertainty in organizing and implementing further measures for control of the infection.

Moreover, if paid testing is allowed, various laboratories may begin conducting tests without assessing the biosecurity assurance processes, ensuring compliance with key biosecurity system requirements, implementing infection control in laboratories, ensuring the proper flow of processes, and there is also a risk of unnecessary dissemination of the personal data of the subjects if information security requirements are not properly maintained. Such activities are unacceptable primarily due to the risk of spreading the infection among staff and visitors, and secondly, due to the need for reliable results from the testing.

Sometimes it becomes impossible to gather information about individuals with positive test results to organize their further treatment and implement epidemiological measures, which reduces the manageability of the epidemic. Considering the need for concentrating the implementation of tests, Minister of Health Arsen Torosyan has signed an order stating that tests can only be conducted in laboratories approved by the ministry, based on a medical indication and free of charge.”