ICMR advises states to stop usage of COVID rapid testing kits from 2 Chinese manufacturers

In a major development on Monday, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has issued an visory to states across country halting use of rapid antibody tests procured from two Chinese manufacturers. After several states complained of faulty kits and 'objectionable' accuracy, ICMR h vised states to halt rapid testing and placed two Chinese manufacturers - Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech and Zhuhai Livzon Diagstics - under its scanner.

ICMR has w vised states to stop us of rapid testing kits from se manufacturers. 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. 

RE | 2 Chinese Manufacturers Under ICMR Scanner For Providing Faulty COVID Rapid Testing Kits

'Rapid kits cant replace RT-PCR tests'

Meanwhile, ICMR h earlier forwarded protocols for us of rapid testing kits to provide assistance to states. apex medical council has also communicated to states and clarified that rapid antibody tests are largely to be used as a tool of surveillance and cant replace RT-PCR tests to diagse COVID-19 cases. ICMR has highlighted that utility of se kits is evolving and that test results are also dependent on field conditions. Several states including Rajasthan, Tamil Nu and West Bengal h complained of 'faulty' testing kits causing a delay in accurate results. 

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At present, re are 20,835 active COVID-19 cases across country. While 832 deaths have occurred, 6,184 individuals have recovered from dely disease. Maharashtra continues to remain worst-affected state. 

ICMR visits AIIMS Jhajjar

Earlier on April 24, a team of scientists from Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) h visited AIIMS's National Cancer Institute (NCI) at Jhajjar in Haryana, to conduct field validation of Chinese manufactured rapid antibody testing kits. A senior scientist from ICMR told ANI: "We have started field validation of rapid antibody test kits, which we received from China. A group of scientists has gone to NCI, Jhajjar, to do field validation. This rapid antibody tests would be on blood samples of COVID and n-COVID patients to learn trend."

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