Widespread testing is one of the ways to monitor and control the spread of the COVID-19 Novel Corona Virus Pandemic. However, there are not enough Rapid Testing Kits available in the states, across the country. Some states received these kits just recently but the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) found some of these kits to be faulty and had hence asked the states not to use these kits for 2 days, till they could ascertain the quality of these kits. However, the ICMR has now released a new advisory to all the Indian states!

ICMR's latest circular advices all States to use the Rapid Antibody Kits only as a means of random surveillance to monitor the COVID outbreak and not as a diagnosis tool! The ICMR has suggested that only the RT-PCR Tests be used for diagnosing the COVID-19 Corona Virus. The ICMR has reiterated that only the tests of nasal or throat swabs in RE-PCR Tests can be taken as confirmatory tests for the diagnosis of the Corona Virus.

Check out the circular from the ICMR here: