Health minister on reliability of express tests

The omicron strain has its peculiarities, Minister of Health Teymur Musayev told a briefing today.

Report quotes him as saying that at the moment, the PCR test is considered the gold standard as the primary way of detecting the virus.

He noted that the reliability of this test mostly depends on a healthcare worker who performs it.

"If a medical worker took the swab incorrectly, the test might be negative," he said.

The minister also touched upon the reliability of express tests.

"I don't want to comment on this issue. None of those tests have been approved officially. Scientists are working on new testing methods. After that, it will be possible to identify new virus strains using specific testing means," he said.