BMC begins rapid antigen tests, north Mumbai will be priority
1L KITS OBTAINED TO CHECK SPREAD 2,000 rapid tests will push daily number for city to 7,000
MUMBAI: A day after receiving one lakh rapid antigen kits from a South Korean company, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) started testing for Covid-19 from Friday.
Considering the growing number of Covid-19 cases in the northern parts of the city, BMC will run a majority of tests in those wards.
BMC procured 1 lakh kits from South Korean firm SD Biosensors , the only company approved by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), on Thursday night. According to the protocol, every positive report from the testing will be treated as ‘true positive’, while negative samples will have to be mandatorily re-tested by RT-PCR process. Every day, 2,000 rapid tests will be conducted, which will push the number of daily tests in the city to 7,000.
Currently, BMC is conducting 3,500-5,000 reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests daily.
Like RT-PCR, rapid antigen kits detect the presence of molecular pathogens of the coronavirus. RT-PCR takes almost eight hours to give results, while reports of the antigenbased test that uses nasal swab samples are out within 30 minutes.
The antigen-based test uses nasal swab samples for testing
It gives results within 30 minutes, whereas RT-PCR takes over eight hours
These rapid antigen tests detect the presence of molecular pathogens of coronavirus
The ICMR has allowed only one antigen detection kit that is developed by a South Korean company, SD Biosensor
The kit—standard Q COVID-19 Ag detection kit – comes with an inbuilt Covid antigen test device, viral extraction tube with viral lysis buffer and sterile swab for sample collection
The kit will be used in containment zones or hot spots and healthcare settings
Mumbai has procured one lakh testing kits
According to protocol, every positive report from the rapid antigen testing will be treated as ‘true positive’, while negative samples will have to be mandatorily re-tested by RT-PCR process.
We will start testing symptomatic patients from hospitals to get quicker reports.
More, co-convenor, Jan Aarogya Abhiyan.
With the relaxation of the lockdown, epidemiologists said sero-survey and antigen testing will provide the real picture.
“Sars-cov-2 (the virus which causes Covid-19) is still unknown to us. We need more data and analysis to understand its demographic and geographical outspread. Rapid test is not only fast, but the kit is also pocket-friendly. It’s the need of the hour,” said Dr Lancelot Pinto, city epidemiologist from Hinduja Hospital.