As cases surge, govt to start rapid anti-body blood tests for COVID-19

Union Health Ministry gives approval to test influenza-like symptoms for COVID-19. At present, the government uses the RT-PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests to detect the coronavirus from samples of throat or nasal swab of people with symptoms or high-risk individuals who might have come in contact with a positive patient.

New Delhi: With the rapid increase in the number of positive COVID-19 cases across India, the Union Health Ministry on Sunday has given approval to start rapid antibody based blood test for COVID-19.

“The test will be started from clusters (with containment zones), and in large migration gatherings and evacuees centres,” said Lav Agrawal, joint secretary in the ministry of Health and family Welfare.

Increase of 216 positive COVID-19 cases have been registered from across India in last 24 hours. On Saturday, India registered an increase of 601 cases from across states, with the Health Ministry blaming the Tablighi Jaamat conglomeration as the reason behind such spike.

India’s apex medical research body, Indian Council of medical research (ICMR) on Saturday night released the guidelines for antibody tests.

According to the guidelines issued by ICMR director general Balram Bhargava, all symptomatic persons with influenza-like illness should be advised home quarantine for 14 days. At facility level, symptomatic individuals with influenza-like illness to be tested using rapid antibody tests.

As per the guidelines, if the antibody test is negative, then the person should be sent for a real-time PCR test, if warranted. If the RT-PCR test is not done, the person is advised home quarantine and will have to undergo another antibody test after 10 days.

The guidelines has emphasised that all cases of influenza-like illnesses and symptoms similar to that of COVID-19 should be monitored in health facilities.

Read:India to participate in WHO's COVID-19 'solidarity trial'

“Any surge in cases to be monitored and brought to the notice of surveillance officer and CMO for additional investigation,” the guidelines stated. The government is making availability of the anti body test kits across different states.

At present, the government uses the RT-PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests to detect the coronavirus from samples of throat or nasal swab of people with symptoms or high-risk individuals who might have come in contact with a positive patient.

RT-PCR negative indicates the likelihood of a non-COVID-19 influenza-like illness while RT-PCR positive means it is a confirmed case and action as per protocol should be initiated for isolation, treatment and contact tracing, the advisory stated.

The rapid antibody tests approved by US-FDA/CE-IVD or non-CE-IVD validated by ICMR-NIV with marketing approval by DCGI should be used.

In order to ensure that all such cases are monitored and necessary action is initiated with respect to infectious disease management, details of all test results shall be uploaded in ICMR portal.

"All such organisations are duty bound to register themselves to ICMR portal and upload the data in real-time. Failure to do so, they will be held liable to action under Disaster Management Act, 2005," the advisory stated.

(With inputs from PTI)