The polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, test is considered to be the gold standard for a Covid-19 diagnosis.
A positive result means you probably have Covid-19, whereas a negative test means you more than likely did not have the virus at the time of testing.
But there is a third possible result: PP, or presumptive positive. But what does that mean?
The National explains.
What is a PCR test?
It seeks to detect the presence of the Sars-CoV-2 virus, which causes Covid-19.
Sample collection is done using a swab on a long stick to collect respiratory material found inside the nose.
The sample is then sealed in a tube and sent off for analysis.
What happens next?
The lab performs a procedure called extraction, where they isolate genetic material from the sample to check if any virus is present.
Special chemicals are then used to create a reaction that makes millions of copies of a portion of the Sars-Cov-2 virus’s genetic material. One chemical creates a reaction that lights up in a fluorescent colour if the virus is detected.
What does a PP, or presumptive positive, result mean?
The result is inconclusive.
"It might be positive but it needs to be repeated again in three days," said Dr Engy Iskandar, a specialist in internal medicine at Dubai's International Modern Hospital.
"In Covid-19 tests, they look for several genes. If they find only one it means it is presumptive positive and it is not confirmed yet."
Doctors said all PCR testing looks for genes specific to Covid-19, but tests could pick up those in general coronaviruses too.
"A presumptive positive result indicates that not all genes were detected," said Dr Heba Sami, head of laboratory and consultant clinical pathologist at Saudi German Hospital, Ajman.
Once the presumptive positive result is obtained, the patient should self-quarantine and repeat the test within 72 hours
Perhaps genes specific to general coronaviruses were detected only. But it could alternatively indicate a low viral load, doctors said.
“As per National Crisis and Emergency Management Authority (NCEMA) guidelines provided by Dubai Health Authority, presumptive positive means only one of the multiple genes is isolated, or a low viral load is possible,” said Dr Surbhi Gupta, a specialist in clinical pathology at NMC Royal Hospital in Dubai.
At any event, anyone who receives this result should immediately begin quarantining and repeat the test in three days.
“Once the presumptive positive result is obtained, the patient should self-quarantine and repeat the test within 72 hours," Dr Gupta said.
Do all laboratories have the capacity to detect this result?
Yes, all testing facilities must be able to detect this.
“All testing laboratories have to provide it. It is part of NCEMA guidelines,” Dr Gupta said.
Is it common?
No. Laboratories say the result only accounts for a tiny percentage of samples.
“Based on the testing in our lab, the presumptive positive rate is 0.24 per cent,” Dr Gupta said.
Door to door with Abu Dhabi's testing squad
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Key changes
Commission caps
For life insurance products with a savings component, Peter Hodgins of Clyde & Co said different caps apply to the saving and protection elements:
• For the saving component, a cap of 4.5 per cent of the annualised premium per year (which may not exceed 90 per cent of the annualised premium over the policy term).
• On the protection component, there is a cap of 10 per cent of the annualised premium per year (which may not exceed 160 per cent of the annualised premium over the policy term).
• Indemnity commission, the amount of commission that can be advanced to a product salesperson, can be 50 per cent of the annualised premium for the first year or 50 per cent of the total commissions on the policy calculated.
• The remaining commission after deduction of the indemnity commission is paid equally over the premium payment term.
• For pure protection products, which only offer a life insurance component, the maximum commission will be 10 per cent of the annualised premium multiplied by the length of the policy in years.
Disclosure
Customers must now be provided with a full illustration of the product they are buying to ensure they understand the potential returns on savings products as well as the effects of any charges. There is also a “free-look” period of 30 days, where insurers must provide a full refund if the buyer wishes to cancel the policy.
“The illustration should provide for at least two scenarios to illustrate the performance of the product,” said Mr Hodgins. “All illustrations are required to be signed by the customer.”
Another illustration must outline surrender charges to ensure they understand the costs of exiting a fixed-term product early.
Illustrations must also be kept updatedand insurers must provide information on the top five investment funds available annually, including at least five years' performance data.
“This may be segregated based on the risk appetite of the customer (in which case, the top five funds for each segment must be provided),” said Mr Hodgins.
Product providers must also disclose the ratio of protection benefit to savings benefits. If a protection benefit ratio is less than 10 per cent "the product must carry a warning stating that it has limited or no protection benefit" Mr Hodgins added.
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
![“Testing campaign and sanitisation [are] to be conducted in gradual phases, and in coordination with targeted blocks,” said the Abu Dhabi Media Office.](https://www.thenationalnews.com/resizer/v2/X6KPEV2OECRQSFKWWPBB7JDE2Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=784e8c30d4dcadd77576aec34a6545824c0a273ed4b3b17ba633f5966b213a8a&width=800&height=450)
