Rapid antibody testing’ to speed up COVID-19 screening   

The ICMR in its interim advisory has recommended the use of the rapid antibody test in the country’s coronavirus hotspots. These test kits might cost 2000-3000 rupees per unit

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NH Web Desk

After Covid-19 cases cross over 4200, India realises the need for extensive testing

India will now deploy rapid test kits to speed up Covid-19 screening

ICMR has given a nod to rapid antibody tests amid a spike in cases and growing corona hotspots in the country.

The serological antibody blood test, which deliver results in 15 minutes, work on blood samples instead of nasal swabs

It will tell whether a patient has ever been exposed to the novel virus.

This would be the first time India will use serology for detection of disease.

Similar tests have been widely conducted to check for influenza, human immunodeficiency virus and Zika.

Many domestic and international, companies have queued up to provide rapid testing kits to India

The council had last month issued tenders for the procurement of 5 lakh antibody test kits

ICMR’s Chief Epidemiologist RR Gangakhedkar said that the kits may arrive by Wednesday


“Population in hotspot areas may be tested using rapid antibody tests,” the ICMR had said in an interim advisory

ICMR had also released detailed guidelines for these tests.

All organisations doing antibody tests must register themselves on the ICMR portal and upload data in real time.

Individuals who test negative must be confirmed by real-time PCR test

The rapid test kits could speed up the screening process in the country

As on April 4 only 70,000 people were tested for Covid-19 at 132 state-run labs and 52 private labs.

The number of tests conducted per day has been increased to 10,000, the ministry said.

Kit manufacturers that said they have the capacity to meet the demand in the country.

These rapid tests will provide a very fast backup plan for real tests.

More than 150 firms are willing to offer test kits to India, the official said.

ICMR official said, these kits will be used after due checks

They would be used to narrow down search results when dealing with clusters

Negative samples would be tested again after 10 days, the person said.

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Published: 06 Apr 2020, 5:26 PM