Ministry of Health has requested that no one do the COVID-19 antibody test.

The Ministry said that it is not a test set to do under the COVID-19 surveillance and response system. However, it has been noted that some individuals and private companies are doing the tests by themselves and taking action based on the results.

Health Ministry said that doing the tests outside the surveillance and response system creates confusion among those who does the test/

A circular issued by the Ministry said that if a situation arises that requires the antibody test, it has to be done under the regulations given by the Health Protection Agency (HPA). And doing the test for research purposes would require to apply at the Ministry’s National Health Research Council.

The test for COVID-19 in the Maldives is the PCR test with samples collected from the nose and the throat.