ICMR confirms '5 lakh anti-body test kits received', explains India's COVID testing ratio

Assuring nation of India's testing capacity, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)'s Dr. Gangakhedkar, on Thursday, revealed that 5 lakh rapid testing (anti-body) kits were received by India from two companies -Livzon and Wondfo. He added that kits had over 80% sensitivity and kits will be used for surveillance and t for early diagsis. Currently, India's Coronavirus tally is at 12380 cases and 414 deaths.

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ICMR: '5 lakh test kits recieved'

ICMR revealed that two types of rapid tests or antibody tests were received, explaining how symptoms will be visible only after 8 days. He said, "If I am infected with virus, within 8 days I may show symptoms. To counter virus, my body will produce antibodies. When we detect IGM type of antibodies (via tests), we come to kw that infection is recent. When IGG antibodies are detected, we can conclude that affected person's health is bettering."

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He added, "If IGM is absent and only IGG is present. Hence, rapid antibody tests we are using are t for early diagsis, only for surveillance. This test will help us kw that if virus is rising in a particular hotspot or reducing. If one is tested positive in an anti-body test, it does t mean one is immune to virus (Coronavirus). Research is needed to be done to evaluate quality of antibody to confirm immunization."

Talking out samples tested till date, he said, "2,90,401 people have been tested till date, of which 30,043 (26,331 tests done at ICMR's 176 labs & 3,712 tests at 78 private labs) were tested yesterday. Comparing India's testing ratio per positive case, he said, " We are doing 24 tests to get 1 person positive. That means 23 tests are resulting in negative. Japan tests 11.7 people to get 1 positive patient, while  In Italy, it is 6.7. people, USA-5.3 and UK- 3.4." He also revealed that India had a rapid test kits stock for up to 8 weeks from w.

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ICMR expands testing guidelines

On April 9,   Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) revised its testing strategy. new strategy which has been released by ICMR also includes testing in 'hotspots/cluster' for all symptomatic cases - within 7 days (rRT- PCR method) and after 7 days (antibody test).   ICMR previously only allowed testing of all people with symptoms with travel history, contact history, SARI patients and asymptomatic people with high-risk contacts.

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ICMR testing guidelines and capacity

Currently, testing for Coronavirus is done in 219 labs throughout nation - 176 Govt & 78 Pvt. On March 21, Centre tified guidelines laid down by ICMR for COVID-19 testing in private laboratories in country. It has been stressed that private labs can charge only Rs.1,500 for screening of suspect cases and Rs.3000 for confirmation test. While  ICMR has encourd private labs to go for free or subsidized testing, government labs are testing for free. Moreover, Supreme Court instructed Pvt labs to conduct free COVID-19 testing for patients covered by AYUSHMAN Bharat scheme.