Centre tells Delhi to use rapid antigen detection kit for COVID-19 in containment zones, hospitals

NEW DELHI: The Centre has communicated to the Delhi government that it can deploy rapid antigen COVID-19 detection kit in containment zones and hospitals in combination with the traditional RTPCR test for faster diagnosis and effective prevention.

The Centre’s communication came in the wake of the recent spurt in Coronavirus cases in the national capital. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has capped the procurement cost for rapid antigen test kit at Rs 450 following negotiation with the firm that produces it. It negotiated the price of the Standard Q COVID-19 Ag detection kit (rapid antigen test kits) with the South Korean company SD Biosensor, which developed it and which has its manufacturing unit in Manesar, Gurgaon.

On June 14, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) had written a letter to the Health Ministry, highlighting the need to augment COVID-19 testing in containment zones in the Delhi.

The ICMR letter followed two high-level meetings Union Home Minister Amit Shah had with the Delhi government on Sunday.

“The Delhi government has already been told that they can deploy rapid antigen detection test for COVID-19 in the containment zones as well as hospitals in combination with the RT-PCR test to check the spread of infection,” a health ministry source said on Tuesday.

The rapid antigen test kits allow faster diagnosis without laboratory examination of samples.

“It is critical to immediately augment COVID-19 testing capacity in containment zones of Delhi to prevent the spread of infection,” ICMR Director General Dr Balram Bhargava told Union Health Secretary Preeti Sudan in the June 14 letter.