E-Paper
ICMR tells states to scale up rapid antigen testing
The research body has also created a set of common log-in credentials for each district, to avoid individual organisations, labs or hospitals having to enter data of all confirmed cases separately on the ICMR portal.
The chief of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has asked states to scale up testing in districts, using the antigen-based method. The medical body also told states to identify centres that will conduct these tests, saying it had received requests from public sector undertakings (PSUs), government and private facilities, temples and others to initiate antigen-based testing for the diagnosis of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
“With the use of antigen tests, more and more tests are being carried out. It is absolutely necessary that all such testing data is uploaded… all government hospitals/labs and all private NABH/ NABL hospitals and labs may initiate antigen testing… ICMR has been receiving multiple requests from various public sector units, small private/government facilities, temples etc. for initiating this testing,” Dr Balram Bhargava, director-general, ICMR wrote in his letter on Thursday.
The research body has also created a set of common log-in credentials for each district, to avoid individual organisations, labs or hospitals having to enter data of all confirmed cases separately on the ICMR portal. The credentials will be shared with all approved government and private facilities.
The states have also been directed to link each identified antigen testing facility with a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) centre to conduct confirmatory tests.
Rapid antigen detection is non-confirmatory. Those who test negative could be tested through an RT-PCR test for confirmation. RT-PCR tests are considered the gold standard of Covid-19 testing.
The states have also been directed to appoint a nodal person to interact with the research body and ensure all testing criteria is fully adhered to by the state and the designated facilities.
Dr Bhargava directed states that all facilities, both government and private, that are capable of performing antigen-based tests for Covid-19 should be assessed and approved.
“… algorithm for interpreting the antigen test should be followed wherein all positives can be labeled as true positives and symptomatic negatives should be subjected to RT-PCR... all testing points should be appropriately linked.”
Symptomatic patients who return negative results will be tested at the RT-PCR facility linked to the antigen test centre.
“District-wise login credentials should be shared with all antigen testing sites (government and private) so that data can be entered into the ICMR portal on a real-time basis... ensure aforementioned steps to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic, so that precious lives are saved, and livelihoods are protected, too,” wrote Dr Bhargava.
ICMR had advised use of antigen-based testing for quick detection of Covid-19 patients in containment zones and hospitals. The first kit by a south Korean company, SD Biosensor, was validated jointly for use in India by ICMR and Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on June 14.
Virologists say mass testing is the key to identify and isolate those infected so that the disease doesn’t spread.
“The way ahead is to test as many people as possible, to be able to track and isolate those people who are infected so that the disease spread is contained. If you isolate them in time, the spread in the community will be curtailed,” said Jacob John, former head, virology department, Christian Medical College, Vellore.
