In recent developments, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has issued fresh guidelines for the testing of coronavirus cases with regards to RT-PCR and RAT tests amidst the second wave of the coronavirus and the surge in COVID-19 cases.
According to the new guidelines issued, an "RT-PCR test must not be repeated in any individual who has tested positive once either by RAT or RT-PCR". Moreover, recovered individuals who get discharged from hospitals will not require another round of testing, the ICMR said.
Furthermore, the ICMR also seeks to remove mandatory negative RT-PCR test reports for healthy individuals undertaking inter-state domestic travel. "The need for RT-PCR test in healthy individuals undertaking inter-state domestic travel may be completely removed to reduce the load on laboratories," the guidelines read.
However, the ICMR that non-essential travel or inter-state travel of symptomatic individuals should be avoided. Whereas all asymptomatic individuals undertaking essential travel must follow COVID-19 appropriate behaviour. Moreover, all states across India have been advised to ensure full utilisation of the available RT-PCR testing capacity, both in public and private laboratories.
On the other hand, the ICMR had been sending real-time polymerase chain reaction or RT-PCR testing kits to states free of cost since the pandemic began. However, the authority last year announced in August that it will stop sending RT-PCR test kits in September, leaving the states to procure test kits from their own coffers. It is said that each testing kit costs the state INR 450 on average.
However, in the latter part of September, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had reportedly begun the process of buying these test kits.
Share
Tweet
