Assam suspends rapid anti-body tests

GUWAHATI: Following an advisory from Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Assam government has suspended rapid tests for Covid-19 for two days.
ICMR on Tuesday asked states to stop using the newly-distributed Chinese rapid testing kits for the next two days after disparities in results were reported from different areas. The kits were purchased by Centre which it supplied to states.
Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said in his tweet, “In view of advisory issued by @ICMR state govt has suspended Rapid Anti Body tests, for next two days.”
ICMRs head of epidemiology and communicable diseases Raman R Gangakhedkar said that in three states it was found that there was a lot of variation in the accuracy of test results of positive samples.
Assam has received 9600 of these Chinese made rapid test kits from centre. Sarma said that the department wants to use these kits in medical colleges and district hospitals whenever a doctor doubts on any patient coming for general treatment, from April 24.
He said that 50 kits will be used for random test at Spanish Garden apartment, which has been sealed as a containment zone after one of its residents tested positive and has now been cured on Wednesday. Another 25 kits in Athgaon KRead More – Source

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