IMCR: Rapid Test Kit only to detect antibody of the affected
Posted on: 23/Apr/2020 10:39:12 PM - No. of views : (3242)
The raging coronavirus has been spreading far, fast, and wide all over the world, affecting billions of people and causing great panic across the globe!
In India, 23,029 persons have been affected with coronavirus infection so far. 721 lives have been lost! 5,008 persons have recovered. Still, the lockdown imposition is to continue until 3rd May.
Meanwhile, a situation has arisen where testing has to be undertaken with the public in a large number of tests in order to prevent the spreading of the coronavirus pandemic.
With the presently followed testing procedure in the laboratories, it takes 3 days for the results. So, as a measure to conduct these tests faster, it was decided to procure �Rapid Test Kits� from China.
Accordingly, in the 1st Phase,6.5 Lakhs kits were procured last week, and then in the 2nd Phase, 3 Lakhs kits were procured.
At this stage, various states have been using these Rapid Test Kits in the laboratories. However, the State Governments have reported that the Rapid Test Kits give the wrong results!
Subsequently, the Indian Medical Research Council (ICMR) ordered to stop using the rapid test Kits for 2 days.
In this scenario, ICMR has come up with some explanations while stopping the usage of rapid Test kits for detecting coronavirus infection.
In a letter sent by ICMR to all the State Chief Secretaries, it is mentioned that Rapid test Kits are used only to detect ANTIBODY in the affected persons. Thus, Rapid Test Kits can be used only for monitoring coronavirus and NOT FOR CURE! Only PCR must be conducted to detect coronavirus infection!
