COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus. Since the time it was identified in December 2019, COVID-19 has spread throughout the world and caused over 1 million deaths. The South African government have implemented several ways to try and slow the spread of COVID-19. These include social distancing and limiting the gathering of large groups. Another essential way to control COVID-19 is to increase testing, so people with COVID-19 can be isolated and prevent a further spread. We are assisting the government efforts to control COVID-19 by offering screening and testing for suspected cases in communities across the country.

• To evaluate the accuracy of the rapid PANBIO COVID-19 AG Antigen test.
• To screen for COVID-19 infections in the South African setting. This study will also evaluate how easy it is to use Antigen tests.

• Completing a brief questionnaire
• A nasal and 2 nasopharyngeal swabs.

• Pay R690 for a COVID-19 PCR test and get a Free Rapid COVID-19 Antigen test (SAPHRA approved)
• Normally this combo deal is R1240!
• Fast PCR test results in 24hrs
• Free Antigen and PCR test result certificates

• People with COVID-19 symptoms within the last 7 days.
• 18 years and older
• Willing to sign a consent.

Epicentre is conducting the study in partnership with the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation, the University of Witwatersrand, Wits Health Consortium and the National Health Laboratory Service.

You can participate in this study by visiting any of our testing sites.

CAPE TOWN:

• 5 Duke Avenue, Rondebosch.
• 8 Zinnia Rd, Bloemhof, Bellville.

JOHANNESBURG:

• Our COVID-19 Drive-Through Randburg branch is our JHB head branch in the thriving suburb of Parkview.

• 67 Dundalk Avenue, Parkview, Randburg, Gauteng

KWAZULU-NATAL:

• Hillcrest: (Hillcrest Methodist Church) 5 Nqutu Rd, Hillcrest

The study will conclude once the study target has been met.

For more information

results-enquiry@epicentre.org.za

087 072 5300

Antigen tests, like the name suggests, test for antigens. An COVID-19 Antigen test basically looks for fragments of COVID-19 antigens within a person’s body to see if they’re infected with the virus.

“An antigen is a substance recognized by the body’s immune system, which can [then] respond by generating proteins called antibodies that specifically recognize that antigen,” Albert Shaw, MD, a Yale Medicine infectious disease doctor and professor of medicine at Yale School of Medicine

That basically means, “the point of an antigen test is to detect the presence of a protein—the nucleocapsid protein—which is part of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that is the cause of COVID-19.” [Dr Shaw].