ICMR issues RT-PCR testing guidelines amid second wave of Covid-19: Details here
PremiumThe ICMR directed that 'RT-PCR test must not be repeated in any individual who has tested positive once either by RAT or RT-PCR'
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has issued fresh guidelines for Covid-19 testing as the laboratories face challenges to meet the expected testing target due to the rise in caseload.
The ICMR directed that "RT-PCR test must not be repeated in any individual who has tested positive once either by RAT or RT-PCR".
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2 min read . 05:26 PM ISTIt further added that there will be no testing required for Covid-19 recovered patients at the time of hospital discharge.
Further, the ICMR is also planning to remove mandatory negative RT-PCR test reports for health individuals undertaking inter-state domestic travel. In an official notification, ICMR wrote: "The need for RT-PCR test in healthy individuals undertaking inter-state domestic travel may be completely removed to reduce the load on laboratories".
However, it added that non-essential travel or inter-state travel of symptomatic individuals should be avoided. Whereas all asymptomatic individuals undertaking essential travel must follow Covid-19 appropriate behavior, the guidelines added.
The overall nationwide test positivity rate has gone above 20 per cent in the past month. India has 2,506 molecular testing laboratories, including RT-PCR, TrueNat, CBNAAT, and other platforms, as of May 4.
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