Near East University, having the only laboratory in the TRNC accredited by MOTAKK and developed the local PCR Diagnostic Kit, announced that people infected with viruses such as Rhinovirus, Enterovirus and Influenza in tests performed with other PCR kits in different laboratories were diagnosed with COVID-19 false positive
Date Added: 10 January 2022, 13:11


The only laboratory in the TRNC accredited by the Quality Control Program in Molecular Diagnosis-MOTAKK and the Near East University, which has developed the only local PCR Diagnostic Kit, made important statements about the course of the Omicron variant, which has become the dominant variant by spreading rapidly in the country. Explaining that the antigen kits used have missed 40 percent of Omicron cases, Near East University announced that they determined that people infected with viruses such as Rhinovirus, Enterovirus, and Influenza were diagnosed as COVID-19 positive.

Carrying out its studies on COVID-19 with a highly qualified team of 32 experts, including virologists, medical geneticists, microbiologists, molecular medicine and molecular biologists, Near East University emphasized that the TRNC’s local PCR Diagnosis and Variant Detection kit, which was developed by the university in order to follow the spread of the Covid variants including Omicron variant and carry out the process in a more reliable way, is the most reliable follow-up method in the country.

Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ: “We detected inaccuracies in the diagnosis of COVID-19 made with imported PCR kits in different laboratories.”
Saying that they are following the Omicron variant, which is spreading rapidly in the country with a team of experts in their fields, Near East University Vice-Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ said that they reached striking results regarding the Omicron variant in the analyzes they performed in their laboratory, which was established by Near East University and accredited by the Molecular Diagnosis Quality Control Program-MOTAKK. Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ stated that they detected errors in the diagnosis of COVID-19 made with imported PCR kits in different laboratories, and said, “We determined that people infected with different viruses such as Rhinovirus, Enterovirus and Influenza were diagnosed with a false-positive diagnosis of COVID-19.”

Stating that antigen tests, which are used extensively in the country, miss 40 percent of Omicron cases, Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ emphasized that not only antigen tests, but also the TRNC’s native PCR Diagnosis and Variant Detection kit, which is accredited by MOTAKK, is the most reliable option for a reliable follow-up of the Omicron variant.