Kontroversi Metode Deteksi COVID-19 di Indonesia

Abstract—The governance of COVID-19 cases in Indonesia is carried out in accordance with the WHO directions. Serological tests, often mentioned as rapid antibody tests, are used for mass screening testing while the polymerase-chain-reaction (PCR)-based tests are performed for routine confirmation of COVID-19 infection cases. PCR test is one of nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT) for detection of viral RNA. The management of the COVID-19 detection caused controversies at the beginning of pandemic period. It seems that the controversies occurred due to misperception regarding the tests, as well as misunderstanding caused by differences in individual immune responses, viral dynamics in human bodies and clinical outcomes. In response to community opinion controversies, this paper discuss the following topics, i.e. a glimpse about COVID-19, the characteristics of SARS-CoV-2, viral dynamics in human body, the dynamics of human immune response to SARS-CoV-2, basic explanation about COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2 testing, and the last part explained the occurred controversies. Keywords: Indonesia, polymerase chain reaction, rapid test, SARS-CoV-2, serology Abstrak— Penetapan pelaksanaan deteksi kasus COVID-19 di Indonesia dilaksanakan sesuai arahan WHO. Uji serologis atau rapid test antibodi digunakan untuk test atau skrining massal sedangkan untuk uji berbasis polymerase-chain-reaction (PCR) digunakan untuk konfirmasi rutin kasus infeksi COVID-19. Uji molekuler secara PCR merupakan salah satu metode nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT), untuk mendeteksi RNA virus. Penatalaksanaan deteksi Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) ini di awal masa pandemik menimbulkan berbagai kontroversi di masyarakat. Kontroversi terjadi terutama karena pemahaman yang berbeda dari masyarakat mengenai prinsip pengujian dan adanya salah pengertian akibat adanya perbedaan respon immun antar individu, dinamika virus COVID-19 dalam tubuh orang terinfeksi, dan luaran klinis pasien. Menanggapi kontroversi pendapat di masyarakat maka pada tulisan ini dibahas tentang sekilas COVID-19, karakteristik SARS-CoV-2, dinamika virus dan pembentukan antibodi dalam tubuh manusia, penjelasan prinsip pengujian COVID-19 dan SAR-CoV-2 serta ulasan tentang kontroversi yang terjadi. Kata kunci: Indonesia, polymerase chain reaction, rapid test, SARS-CoV-2, serology