Delhi govt asks DMs to ensure 2,000 rapid-antigen tests every day in their districts

Delhi government has directed all district magistrates (DMs) to ramp up rapid-antigen tests for COVID-19 by conducting 2,000 tests a day in ir respective areas, officials said on Wednesday.

DMs have also been asked to increase rapid-antigen testing centres to 250 across national capital.

As per latest figures, 10,043 rapid antigen tests were conducted in Delhi on Wednesday.

Delhi government started COVID-19 testing through rapid-antigen method in and around containment zones of city from June 18.

A total of 341 teams were involved in rapid-antigen testing that makes results available within 30 minutes.

"District magistrates have been asked to ramp up testing and ensure conducting of 2,000 rapid-antigen tests in ir respective areas every day," official said.

With 2,000 rapid-antigen tests per day, testing exercise will be scaled up significantly with 22,000 tests conducted every day across 11 districts in Delhi, he said.

According to Union Minister G Kishan Reddy, Centre plans to conduct six lakh rapid antigen tests at 169 facilities.

Delhi government h earlier said that it has procured six lakh rapid-antigen test kits for screening COVID-19 infected persons.

kits, called Standard Q COVID-19 Ag detection, have been developed by South Korean company S D Biosensor.

testing method involves looking for antibodies which are produced when body is exposed to a pathogen.

If a person has antibodies associated with vel coronavirus, it means person is eir COVID-19 positive or has recovered.

According to Indian Council of Medical Research, suspected individuals who test negative for COVID-19 in rapid-antigen test should undergo RT-PCR test to rule out infection.

Positive test results should be considered as true positive and do t need reconfirmation by RT-PCR test, it said.