Covid-19 Self Test: The Indian Council of Medical Research has advised that these tests are only for those who have symptoms of Covid or someone who has come in contact with people or places that are at high risk of Covid infection...
New Delhi. Atmanirbhar Bharat has made a kit of Covid Test, going one step further. Through this kit, people will now be able to find samples in their homes by taking samples from their noses, whether they are Covid positive or negative. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has recognized this kit named Coviself. This kit has been developed by the Pune-based molecular company MyLab Discovery Solutions. But as soon as anything related to medicine comes into the market, all kinds of questions start floating in our minds, especially if we have to use it ourselves.
How will the kit prove to be helpful?
With the arrival of the second wave, where hospitals across the country are facing a shortage of space and medicines, as the number of patients increased, the lab was also pressurized for screening of Kovid and the whole country was facing the crisis of getting Kovid tested. Due to the increasing pressure on the lab to test the Kovid, it was taking 3-4 days for the report of the RTPCR, which is considered to be the most reliable in the Kovid test. This led to delays in hospitalization and treatment of patients, which turned the epidemic into a more severe one, due to which the guidelines related to Kovid screening were also changed from time to time. In such a situation, Kovid management is expected to gain new momentum in India due to the introduction of a self-test kit.
After this, long queues in the lab, delays in reports, arbitrary recovery for investigation, delays in treatment due to late reports, will be able to get rid of all kinds of problems like sample collection from homes. Also, this kit will be able to know whether it is negative or positive in just 15 minutes, due to which the treatment of the patient will start in time and the infection can also be prevented from spreading. The self-test kit was first allowed in the US last November. Lusira Health's quick test kit was allowed for use during an emergency. Later it was also allowed in Europe and South Korea.
What is in the kit?
A kit named Coviself has been developed by Mylab Discovery Solution, a Pune-based molecular company. The rapid antigen is used as a test, which is reported in just 15 minutes. For this, the swab is taken from the nose to check the virus. The process of investigation does not take more than two minutes to complete. The price of this kit has been kept at Rs 250. At the same time, compared to this, the cost of the RT-PCR test is 400–1500 rupees and if you go to the lab for an antigen test, then you have to spend 300–900 rupees for it. These prices are different in different states. This kit will be available in the market by next week.
Currently, My Lab can produce 70 lakh kits a week, which is planned to be increased to one crore kits per week in the next 15 days. This kit will be available on 7 lakh chemists and e-pharmacy portals across India. A mobile app of the company will also be released with this kit that is easy to test, investigators can put their reports directly on that app, these results will be directly accessed in the database of Indian Medical Research, thus the number of patients in India and their Information can be easily monitored
Way to check
The kit consists of a pre-filled connecting tube, an extraction tube, a sterile nasal swab (which is sampled inside the nose), a test card, and a biohazard bag (which can be safely placed in the trash can after examination) Could) is included. First of all, you have to download the Coviself app on your phone and put your information in it. The app will securely link all data to the portal of ICMR, where all government investigations are present.
Before starting the investigation, you have to clean your hands and the place where the test kit is to be kept. After this, the swab has to be taken 2–4 cm inside your nose until it touches the back wall of your nostril, rubbing it there and taking a sample. The swab is then rotated in the pre-filled liquid in the extraction tube. The tube is sealed well. After this, two drops of the liquid coming out of the tube are dropped on the testing card. Results are revealed within 15 minutes.
If someone is positive then two lines will emerge on the testing card and if it is negative then the same line will emerge. If the result takes more than 20 minutes or if the streak does not emerge, then it means that the investigation is not done properly. After this, all the things related to the test are put in a biohazard bag and put in a biomedical vest.
What are the pros and cons of the investigation itself?
Instead of calling someone's hospital or lab or a technician at home and getting them tested themselves, the risk of infection will be reduced. It is also good to check yourself because one is cheaper, the other will be able to avoid the hassle of numbering in the lab, as well as it can reduce the pressure on the lab, which has been working for 24 hours for the last several months. Conversely, those who do not believe this investigation to be true have their arguments. Confusion remains in this investigation.
How well does the investigator apply the swab to the nose or the risk of contamination or contamination of the swab stick is also very high. Also, there is a lot of scope for false-negative reports in the Rapid Antigen Test. If someone's report comes negative and he is asymptomatic, then there is a risk of spreading the infection from him. What is the biggest concern above all these things is how honest people are in giving their information. If someone enters their address, number incorrectly, then it will be difficult to trace.
How effective is the investigation itself?
If the patient follows the rules of Isolation, then self-examination can prove to be very effective. According to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), the reliability of an investigation depends on a few things, how well the sample is being taken, how well the guidelines related to the investigation are being followed, when the sample is taken What was the viral load during that time?
According to the report of the European CDC in March, the investigation by itself may slightly narrow the scope of the investigation, but it cannot replace the traditional investigation in any way. The purpose of this investigation should be to reduce the burden of investigation, it cannot be completely relied upon. But with the introduction of such investigations, the management of epidemics like Kovid can be balanced.