Do away with RT-PCR test for inter-state travel for healthy individuals to reduce load on labs: ICMR

The need for RTPCR test in healthy individuals undertaking interstate domestic travel may be completely removed to reduce the load on laboratories recommended an ICMR advisory for Covid19 testing during the second wave of the pandemicThe advisory stated that RTPCR test must not be repeated in any individual who has tested positive once either by RAT or RTPCR and that testing is not required for Covid19 recovered individuals at the time of hospital discharge in accordance with the discharge policy of the Ministry of HealthThe advisory was issued in view of laboratories facing challenges to meet the expected testing target due to extraordinary case load and staff getting infectedThe apex health research body also recommended upscaling testing using RATs and stated that RAT may be allowed at all available government and private healthcare facilities and setting up dedicated RAT booths in cities towns and villages to offer testing to peopleThe RTPCR test must not be repeated in any individual who has tested positive once either by RAT or RTPCR The need for RTPCR test in healthy individuals undertaking interstate domestic travel may be completely removed to reduce the load on laboratories the advisory recommendedNonessential travel and interstate travel of symptomatic individuals COVID19 or flu like symptoms should be essentially avoided to reduce the risk of infection and that all asymptomatic individuals undertaking essential travel must follow Covid19 appropriate behaviour it statedAn unprecedented upsurge of Covid19 cases and deaths is currently being witnessed across India The overall nationwide test positivity rate is above 20 per cent the ICMR saidTestingtrackingtracing isolation and homebased treatment of positive patients is the key measure to curb transmission of SARSCoV2 the causative agent of Covid19As of today India has a total of 2506 molecular testing laboratories including RTPCR TrueNat CBNAAT and other platforms The total daily national testing capacity is close to 15 lakh tests considering a threeshift operationalization of the existing laboratory networkAt present the laboratories are facing challenges to meet the expected testing target due to extraordinary case load and staff getting infected with Covid19 In view of this situation it is imperative to optimize the RTPCR testing and simultaneously increase the access and availability of testing to all citizens of the country the apex health research body saidFurther the ICMR said rapid antigen tests RATs were recommended in India for Covid19 testing in June 2020 However the use of these tests is currently limited to containment zones and healthcare settingsRAT has a short turnaround time of 1530 minutes and thus offers a huge advantage of quick detection of cases and opportunity to isolate and treat them early for curbing transmissionSo far the ICMR has approved 36 RATs of which 10 are on GeM portal To meet the overwhelming testing demand it will be prudent to upscale testing using RATs the advisory saidListing the measures to ramp up testing through RAT the advisory stated testing booths may be set up at multiple locations including healthcare facilities RWAs offices schools colleges community centers and other available vacant spacesThese booths should be operational on a 24X7 basis to improve access and availability of testingDrivethrough RAT testing facilities may be created at convenient locations as identified by local administration and stringent measures must be instituted to avoid overcrowding at RAT testing facilities the ICMR statedThe ICMR also advised all states to ensure full utilization of the available RTPCR testing capacity both in public and private laboratories and added that symptomatic individuals identified positive by RAT should not be retested and advised to go through homebased care as per ICMR guidelinesSymptomatic individuals identified negative by RAT should be linked with RTPCR test facility and in the meantime be urged to follow home isolation and treatmentDuring the current upsurge of Covid19 cases any individual presenting with fever withwithout cough headache sore throat breathlessness bodyache recent loss of taste or smell fatigue and diarrhea should be considered as suspect case of Covid19 unless proven otherwise by confirmation of another etiology the advisory saidThe vaccination status of all individuals tested for Covid19 must be entered into the Sample Referral Form SRF in the RTPCR app both for individuals tested by RTPCR and RAT This information is of critical importance the advisory saidThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever