The Maharashtra government has informed the Bombay High Court that non-availability of COVID-19 testing facilities in all districts is not impacting the quality of tests with enough number of sample collection centres available in every locality. Adding to that, it has also been said that the outbreak is largely concentrated in urban and semi-urban areas where testing facilities have increased as per the need and availability of resources.
As per an affidavit filed in court, the government stated, “There are serious constraints on the availability of skilled technicians and sophisticated equipment.” The response was submitted before a division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice A A Sayed. The justices are having the hearing through a video conference on a plea filed by a fisherman seeking proper testing facilities in Ratnagiri, a non-red zone. This comes in the wake of thousands of stranded migrant workers returning to the district from red zones, such as Mumbai and Pune.
In recent developments, The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) had validated the usage of TrueNat. This is a diagnostic machine for Tuberculosis which can also be used for COVID-19 tests. The TrueNat machines are used to test drug-resistant Tuberculosis (TB). It is a small machine that is battery operated and requires minimal training and can also be easily used in a smaller setting. The sample of the throat and the nasal swab is collected by the trained technicians wearing personal protective equipment. The machine is said to give the result anytime between 30-60 minutes.
ICMR officials have also informed the media that Indian RNA extraction kits are now available in decent numbers and RT-PCR kits by 11-12 indigenous vendors are now being used that has ensured that India remains in a comfortable position with regards to the testing of the coronavirus. ICMR so far has actively identified and handled domestic manufacturers for increasing the production of testing kits which has made the country less reliant on foreign sources.