TOKYO: Japanese health minister Katsunobu Kato on Wednesday approved an antigen test kit that can detect coronavirus infections quickly.

Tokyo-based reagent maker Fujirebio Inc., which developed the kit, applied for approval on April 27.

The kit will initially be supplied for use in emergency medical services and for testing of people who had close contact with those with the virus, Kato said at a press conference on Tuesday.

The antigen test kit can detect proteins unique to the novel coronavirus from a sample taken from the back of the nose.

It can provide results in as little as about 10 minutes, quicker than four to six hours for polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, tests, which are widely used to test people for the virus.

A PCR test is expected to be used to confirm whether a person is negative for the virus, because antigen testing is thought to be less accurate.

It has been pointed out that PCR testing alone is not sufficient to handle a spike in suspected coronavirus cases as it requires special equipment and takes time to provide results.

The ministry aims to increase testing for the virus by using both methods depending on circumstances.

"The number of PCR testing is smaller in Japan than in other countries," said Satoshi Kamayachi, an executive board member of the Japan Medical Association.

"If antigen testing becomes available, the situation will change," said Kamayachi, who sits on the government's coronavirus response advisory committee.

JIJI Press