By Sumit Saxena
New Delhi, April 18 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Centre on Saturday said realtime PCR (RT-PCR) based molecular test is the gold standard for frontline test for COVID-19 diagnosis and rapid antibody test cannot replace it. RT-PCR is aimed at early virus detection, said the ministry.
Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary Health Ministry, said rapid antibody test signifies prevalence of disease in a particular area and its utility is after seven days, antibodies usually take seven days to develop, as the infected person would require this time period to develop symptoms.
"Rapid diagnostic test purpose is not a confirmatory test, it is rather for epidemiological studies and surveillance purpose and it has to be carried out under proper medical supervision", added Agarwal.
The National Task Force at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has carefully reviewed the data from various countries on use of such kits, and based on available evidence, the testing strategy for COVID-19 has been revised further.
"The rapid antibody test will only be of utility after a minimum of 7 days of onset of symptoms. Data about these rapid tests is emerging and understanding of their utility for diagnosis is still evolving", said ICMR.
The Health Ministry said in case an area in any district has not been declared a hotspot, still it is advised to use rapid diagnostic tests, or if there is an emerging hotspot, these kits can be used as a surveillance tool for epidemiological purposes.
"From the data derived from rapid diagnostic test, if we find any positive case, then we need it for contact tracing and followup... the tests should follow an online update at state or district level registration is a must at ICMR portal before using these tests", said Agarwal.
Detailing India's testing strategy, the Health Ministry said that Real-Time PCR (RT-PCR) test and Point-of-Care molecular diagnosis are recommended for confirming COVID-19 among individuals belonging to the following categories: All symptomatic individuals who have undertaken international travel in the last 14 days; all symptomatic contacts of laboratory confirmed cases; all symptomatic healthcare workers; all patients with Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (fever and cough and/or shortness of breath); and, asymptomatic direct and high-risk contacts of a confirmed case should be tested once between day 5 and day 14 of coming in his/her contact.
Detailing testing in hotspot areas, the Health Ministry said if anyone shows fever, cold and cough symptoms for less than seven days, then RT-PCR should be used for identification of coronavirus cases -- if found confirmed, then steps recommended in action plan should be taken; and if found negative, then it should marked as susceptible case and subjected to monitoring.
On the usage of rapid antibody test, the Health Ministry said if fever, cough and cold symptoms exist for more than seven days, then rapid antibody test should be used. "If found positive, then the person would have to be quarantined and we have to begin patient's contact tracing, if found negative, still 14 days' monitoring is required", said the ministry official.
(Sumit Saxena can be contacted at sumit.s@ians.in)
Source: IANS
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