RT-PCR test unable to detect new variants: Helvetia Medical Centre

Dr Souradipta Chandra, Consultant Physician, Helvetia Medical Centre said that the new mutant seems to be undetectable by the Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test. He said that there are double and triple mutant varieties that have been discovered and due to change in the structure RT-PCR tests are unable to detect it properly.

New Delhi: With two new strains of Covid-19, one each from the UK and Brazil, confirmed in a number of states, Dr Souradipta Chandra, Consultant Physician, Helvetia Medical Centre, Delhi said that the mutant seems to be undetectable by the Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test.

He said that there are double and triple mutant varieties that have been discovered and due to change in structure, RT-PCR tests are unable to detect it properly. Apart from usual symptoms like sore throat, body ache, fever, loss of smell and taste, the new variety has added few more symptoms like diarrhoea, bleeding through the nose, conjunctivitis etc among the patients.

"We are seeing patients with diarrhoea, abdominal pain, rashes, conjunctivitis, confusion state, brain fog, bluish discolouration of fingers and toes, bleeding through the nose", added Dr Chandra.

Highlighting the need to administer the drug at an appropriate stage to treat COVID-19 patients, he said that Remdesivir isn't mandatory for all and cautioned against the use of a cocktail of drugs at an early stage. "We may use Remdesivir as we don't have an anti-viral drug. It's of no use if given early to asymptomatic individuals/ones with mild symptoms. Also of no use, if given late", added the Consultant Physician.

Amid the shortage of liquid medical oxygen in the country, he said that the demand for medical oxygen demand shot up by three times due to the spike in the COVID-19 cases. He advised the patients to avoid unnecessary hoarding of oxygen and added every patient doesn't need to take artificial oxygen.

"Every patient doesn't require artificial oxygen. If someone tests coronavirus positive, he/she should monitor the oxygen level. If it goes below 88 SpO2, then they should consult a doctor. Sometimes, it is quite normal. So, don't conserve the oxygen cylinders and let the critical patients use them", added Dr Chandra. He also said doctors should ensure that the oxygen should be used in a judicious manner.

Meanwhile, India recorded 3,32,730 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, the highest single-day spike since the pandemic broke out last year. India has crossed the mark of 3 lakh COVID-19 cases for two consecutive days now.

This has taken the cumulative count of the COVID infection in the country to 1,62,63,695. The country has recorded 2,263 new deaths due to COVID-19 in the last 24 hours. As many as 1,86,920 people have succumbed to the viral infection in India so far. There are 24,28,616 active COVID-19 cases in the country now.