ICMR Recommends Use Of Antigen-Based Testing Kits For Faster Diagnosis Of Covid-19

The Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR), India's apex medical research body has recommended the use of first antigen-based Covid-19 testing for quick detection at lower rates without the need for laboratory examination of samples, reports Times of India.

The testing kit, which has been developed by private-sector biotechnology firm SD Biosensor and validated by both AIIMS, Delhi and ICMR, is capable of detecting the Covid-19 virus using the swab collected from an individual's nose alone.

The antigen-based testing kit detects the presence of pathogens which trigger the immune response against COVID-19 virus in the human body in a maximum time of 30 minutes.

However, despite the test's high specificity, taking note of it's relatively low sensitivity the ICMR has recommended that the antigen-based testing kits should be used in combination with RT-PCR based tests.

While noting that no confirmatory tests are required for the ones who test positive, the ICMR has said that suspected individuals who test negative for Covid-19 by rapid antigen test should be definitely tested sequentially by RT-PCR to rule out infection.