Ukraine will be launching a new type of tests to detect the coronavirus infection – the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method.
"ELISA will significantly expand testing in Ukraine, since it is much more affordable unlike PCR testing," Deputy Health Minister Viktor Liashko told Ukrainian Radio on Wednesday, May 13.
"This means expanding the groups we will need to test," said the senior official.
Also, Ukraine will increase the number of devices operating with a polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
Read alsoUkraine to opt for "adaptive quarantine" in June-July, PM says
"We are often reproached about performing a small number of tests. Of course, we don't do as many tests as Germany or the U.S., but given our capacities, in February we could test 200-500 samples. Now we're able to test 10,000 per day," Liashko added.
On average, Ukraine's daily PCR testing rate stands at 7,000-8,000.
"Over weekends, we test nearly 5,000 samples as people choose not to apply until Monday. So I'd like to urge people to call their family doctor or an ambulance over weekends as soon as symptoms appear," the deputy minister said.
As UNIAN reported, as of the morning of May 13, a total of 16,425 lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 were recorded in Ukraine, including 439 deaths and 3,716 recoveries.
