Liputan6.com, Jakarta The Covid-19 Handling Task Force (Satgas) said the Omicron variant of Covid-19 has a high mutation rate in the S or Spike section of the gene.This condition has an impact on the accuracy of detection of diagnostic test tools, especially those that use the S gene target to detect viruses.Spokesman for the Covid-19 Handling Task Force, Wiku Bakti Bawono Adisasmito noted, currently Indonesia uses two test equipment, namely rapid antigen and molecular detection or the Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT).These NAAT methods include Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR), reverse transcription loop mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP, and Rapid Molecular Tests (TCM).Based on statements from the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and scientific publications in December 2021, the ability of rapid antigens to detect the presence of Omicron variants is still being studied."Rapid antigen may still be able to detect an infection. However, its accuracy can be reduced," he said in a press conference broadcast via the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube, Tuesday (4/1).Dozens of countries have imposed international travel restrictions to prevent the entry of the Omicron variant, mostly aimed at South Africa and surrounding countries.This restriction has led to accusations of discrimination, because it does not cover European countries and...While the NAAT test varied.Some target only the S gene, some target more than one gene.NAAT assays targeting only the S gene have the potential to fail to detect Omicron.Meanwhile, the NAAT test that targets more than one gene can produce detection results in other genes, in addition to the S gene."Such NAAT results are called S Gene Target Failure (SGTF) or S gene dropout," he explained."Keep in mind, the NAAT test whose results fail to detect the S or SGTF gene is not necessarily an Omicron variant and must continue with sequencing or better known as Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS)," he concluded.