ICMR Sets Up 11 Teams To Monitor Antigen Tests

NEW DELHI, 20 JUNE 2020:

India’s top health research body has constituted 11 teams to monitor antigen tests being carried out in the national capital, where there’s been a surge in Covid-19 cases.

Of the more than 7,000 tests conducted on the first day of the antigen tests on Thursday, 456 people were found positive, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said. He said people in containment zones were being tested in the first phase.

The 11 teams set up by the Indian Council of Medical Research comprise of epidemiologists along with doctors from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences and they will monitor the antigen tests and provide support, a senior government official said. “The teams will monitor and make sure that antigen tests are carried out correctly,” another official said. With 49,979 total infections and 1,969 deaths, the National Capital recorded the highest positivity rate of 30.5% on June 15. Delhi’s case fatality rate stands at 3%.

Microbiologists, however, are skeptical. While antigen tests gain in speed and are easy to use, they lose in accuracy, several microbiologists said on condition of anonymity. “The sensitivity of the test is low, as reported by ICMR itself, and can underestimate the prevalence,” said a microbiologist. They said this may result in “missing many infected individuals.” Economic Times