Answers to Questions

Coronavirus

In reply to the Hon. T.A. FRANKS (12 May 2020).

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing): I have been advised:

The molecular tests for SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19 infections, are the 'gold standard' tests for detecting SARS-CoV-2. The 'gold standard' method is the optimal investigation against which all other tests are compared. The SA Pathology in-house, Cobas and Xpert nucleic acid tests (NATs) have performed comparably in a Quality Assurance Program.

SA Pathology is now confirming all positive SARS-CoV-2 results by two different NAT assays.

As of 24 June 2020 SA Pathology has performed over 136,131 SARS-CoV-2 NAT tests, effectively testing 7.1 per cent of the total SA population.

I am advised that none of our reported positive cases have subsequently been found to be false positive.

The accuracy and volume of SARS-CoV-2 NAT testing at SA Pathology has been one of the key contributors to the low rates of COVID-19 infections in the state.