2 Chinese manufacturers under ICMR scanner for providing faulty COVID rapid testing kits

Following incidents of complaints from several states including West Bengal and Rajasthan citing 'objectionable' accuracy by rapid testing kits provided by Indian Council of Medical Research, two Chinese manufacturers have come under primary medical body's scanner. se two manufacturers are - Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech CO. Ltd and Zhuhai Livzon Diagstics. According to an ICMR official, Guanzhou Wondfo Biotech provided about 5 lakh rapid antibody test kits while Zhuhai Livzon provided 2 lakh kits to four suppliers across country. 

variations in results and inaccuracy by testing kits led to ICMR instructing states to pause us of kits for 2 days until it conducts an investigation. supplies were brought to India through multiple sorties conducted by Air India and or commercial Indian jetliners amid Coronavirus lockdown. So far, re are 15,474 active cases in country while 3,869 patients have recovered from disease. country has also witnessed 640 deaths due to COVID-19. 

READ | India's Covid Cases Just Below 20,000 After 4.62 Lakh Tests; Toll At 640 & 3870 Recoveries

ICMR directs state govts to t use rapid testing kits

ICMR on Tuesday directed state governments to t use rapid testing kits for next two days. development came after various states complained about accuracy of aforesaid kits. Addressing a press briefing on Tuesday, Dr.Raman Gangakhedkar- head of Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases at ICMR conceded that re was a significant variation in positive RT-PCR samples.

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At same time, he observed that tests might be in a crude form as only three and a half months had passed since outbreak of vel coronavirus pandemic. Additionally, Dr.Gangakhedkar anunced that ICMR would try to validate kits in field instead of laboratories in coming two days and issue a detailed advisory subsequently. 

READ | ICMR Directs State Govts To t Use Rapid Test Kits For Two Days Amid Accuracy Concerns

rapid antibody test kits entail testing of blood samples and are aimed at speeding up screening and detection of suspect COVID-19 patients. This is because it takes more time for results of swab-based tests in labs. It is pertinent to te that RT-PCR is only confirmatory test for COVID-19. Approved by US FDA, rapid test kits are meant only for surveillance and trend checking. 

READ | Rajasthan Stops Rapid Testing, Health Min Says Accuracy Of ICMR Testing Kit 'questionable'

(With ANI Inputs)