ICMR sticks to three self-test kits. Maharashtra leads demand

Pune, September 14, 2021:

The Indian Medical Research Council (ICMR) has approved only three Covid-19 self-test kits so far, and will evaluate more proposals within the next few months. Senior scientists say.

“We are currently using three self-test kits, and if we get the right suggestions, we will approve them,” said Dr. Sami Lampanda, senior epidemiologist who heads the epidemiology and infectious disease department of ICMR.

ICMR has approved three self-test kits (Pune basd Mylab’s CoviSelf, Abbott’s Panbio Covid-19 test based in the United States, and CoviFind in Gujarat’s Meril Diagnostics), but the other three. Has been validated, but not yet approved.

Maharashtra health officials said a self-test kit of Rs 118,000 was used in the state between June and September 8.

Hasmukh Rawal, MD of Mylab, said the response was good. According to the Institute of Pathology, these kits require collection of nasal swabs and uploading of results via the app, so only tech-savvy people can use them.

Regarding the kit, Rohit Jain, Secretary-General of the Practicing Pathologists’ Society, said, “Who will be liable for medical care if the result is false positive or false negative?” ET HealthWorld