Fresh ICMR guidelines to states stress ‘testing on demand’

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has said in its new advisory that people living in containment zones should be tested using rapid antigen testing (RAT) kits, especially in cities badly affected by Covid-19.

Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are the worst-hit states. The number of active cases in Delhi have spiraled by over 90% in the past one month – from 9,897 on August 4 to 18, 845 on September 4.

The fresh ICMR guidelines come as India, the third worst-hit country by the pandemic, recorded 4 million coronavirus cases. Across the country, over 68,000 have died due to Covid so far.

The ICMR has also recommended ‘testing on demand’ for “all individuals undertaking travel to other countries or Indian states mandating a negative Covid-19 test at the point of entry.” The states, however, can use their discretion to modify the approach.

“If an individual develops symptoms following a negative RAT, an RT-PCR test should be done,” says the nodal medical body’s new list of guidelines ‘Advisory on Strategy for Covid-19 Testing in India’.

The medical body says 100% people living in containment zones should be tested by rapid antigen tests, particularly in cities where there has been widespread transmission of the infection.

It says no emergency procedure (including deliveries) should be delayed for lack of tests, and pregnant women should not be referred for lack of testing facility.

In the new advisory, the ICMR also lists steps to prioritize methods of testing. “For routine surveillance of containment zones, antigen tests should be the first priority. For routine surveillance of non-containment zones, RT-PCR tests should be the first priority,” the guidelines say.

“For hospital settings, RT-PCR tests should be the first priority. For ‘testing on demand’, state governments can decide modalities,” it said.

The advisory is part of a revised strategy based on recommendations by the National Task Force on Covid-19.

As the fresh cases spiral, India has now conducted a total of around 4.7 crore tests. It conducted over 11.7 lakh tests for two consecutive days on Wednesday and Thursday. As on date, with 1,025 labs in the government sector and 606 private labs, the countrywide network is strengthened with 1,631 total lab facilities.

The ICMR is the top body in India for the formulation, coordination and promotion of biomedical research, and is one of the oldest medical research bodies in the world.