Update antigen testing data in real time: ICMR

NEW DELHI: In a letter to all states and UTs, ICMR director general Balram Bhargava has said that with the use of rapid antigen tests, more and more tests are being carried out and therefore it is necessary that all testing data is uploaded on the ICMR database on real time basis and all positive cases are brought to the authorities for isolation, quarantine or treatment.
“All government hospitals/labs as well as all private NABH/NABL hospitals/labs may initiate antigen testing and apply for obtaining log in credentials for data entry into the ICMR portal.” In an effort to facilitate and further liberalise testing, ICMR has generated five common log in credentials for each district of each State/ UT, which may be shared with all government and private facilities selected for antigen testing.
The ICMR DG said that to ensure that testing is further enhanced and reporting of the same is done seamlessly states should identify all government and private facilities that would be providing Covid-19 diagnosis through antigen-based assays.