ICMR approves Home-based RAT testing kit for COVID-19

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Wednesday approved a home-based rapid antigen testing (RAT) kit for COVID-19.

However, it is adviseded to use only on symptomatic individuals and on immediate contacts of laboratory confirmed positive cases.

ICMR advisory:

The advisory stated that all individuals who test positive through the RAT kit may be considered as true positives and no-repeat testing is required. “Home testing by RAT is advised only in symptomatic individuals and immediate contacts of laboratory-confirmed positive cases. Indiscriminate testing is not advised,” the ICMR was quoted by PTI as saying.

“All symptomatic individuals who test negative by RAT should get themselves immediately tested by RT-PCR. This is especially important as the RATs are likely to miss few positive cases presenting with a low viral load,” it added.

“All RAT negative symptomatic individuals may be treated as suspect COVID-19 cases and are advised to follow the ICMR/Ministry of Health home isolation protocol while awaiting the RT-PCR test result,” the advisory further stated.

According to ICMR, only a nasal swab will be required for this rapid antigen testing and the kit has been manufactured by Mylab Discovery Solutions Ltd, Pune. The kit costs ₹250 and gives results within 15 minutes.

“The test kit will be available in the market in about a week’s time. It took us about 5 months to get the product ready. We have priced it at ₹250 per kit which includes taxes. The kit has been designed in a way that it is extremely simple to use and it is not a biohazard. There is a disposal bag that comes along for safely disposing off the items after use,” said Hasmukh Rawal, managing director, Mylab Discovery Solutions.

“A positive test will take about 5 to 7 minutes, and a negative result will take 15 minutes max,” he added.

“Manufacturer’s instructions must be strictly followed for disposal of the test kit, swab and other materials.” further added.

ICMR director general, Dr Balram Bhargava, in one of the recent press briefings on Covid, announced that the council was exploring home-based Covid-19 testing solutions.