New Delhi|HL
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has released a new set of guidelines for Covid testing, in order to prevent a load of existing laboratories by reducing RT-PCR tests.
ICMR has recommended No RT-PCR tests
- If Rapid Anigiden Test identified a patient as Covid positive
- If RT-PCR test has identified a patient as positive once
- If one has been in home isolation for 10 days with no fever in the last three days
- At the time of getting discharged from the hospital
- If a healthy individual has undertaken inter-state travel.
In India presently 2,506 labs conducting the tests while this decision is aimed at preventing them from being burdened as cases increase.
The ICMR said, “At present, the laboratories are facing challenges to meet the expected testing target due to extraordinary case load and staff getting infected with Covid-19. In view of this situation, it is imperative to optimise the RT-PCR testing and simultaneously increase the access and availability of testing to all citizens of the country.”
To help the exhausted labs, the ICMR is now suggesting Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) for mass detection. It said the RAT should be allowed in government and private healthcare facilities across the country in cities, towns, schools, colleges, and community centres. The ICMR also suggested creating drive-through RAT facilities.
𝐈𝐂𝐌𝐑 𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐎𝐕𝐈𝐃-𝟏𝟗 𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐜. @MoHFW_INDIA @PIB_India @COVIDNewsByMIB @MIB_India @ pic.twitter.com/kkY2hacpWW
— ICMR (@ICMRDELHI) May 4, 2021
Who should take RT-PCR tests then?
The ICMR has said if an individual identified as negative by Rapid Antigent Test continues to face symptoms of Covid, then the person should be linked with an RT-PCR testing facility.
Mandatory to show vaccinationa status
The ICMR said, “The vaccination status of all individuals tested for Covid-19 must be entered into the Sample Referral Form (SRF) in the RT-PCR app both for individuals tested by RT-PCR and RAT. This information is of critical importance.”
