ICMR recommends use of antigen-based testing kit

Kit Can Give Test Results In 30 Minutes At Much Cheaper Cost

Sushmi.Dey@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:  16.06.2020

The government’s apex research body, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), has recommended use of the first antigen-based testing kit for Covid-19 to enable faster diagnosis at lower rates and without laboratory examinations of samples.

The antigen test — developed by private biotechnology firm SD Biosensor — has also been validated by AIIMS, New Delhi, apart from ICMR and can detect presence of SARS CoV 2 in swab collected from the nose alone.

The test can detect presence of molecules of the pathogen that triggers immune response in Covid-19 infected persons. Maximum duration for interpreting a positive or negative test is 30 minutes through the antigen based kit.

“In view of its high specificity while relatively low sensitivity, ICMR recommends the use of Standard Q Covid-19 Ag detection assay as a point of care diagnostic assay for testing…,” ICMR said in an advisory recommending the antigen test in combination with the gold standard RT-PCR test.

While no confirmatory tests are required for samples testing positive, ICMR said those who test negative should undergo a RT-PCR test to rule out infection. Last month, the US Food and Drug Administration also approved an antigen-based test, noting it is a new type of diagnostic test. "Each category of diagnostic test has its own unique role in the fight against this virus. PCR tests can be incredibly accurate, but running the tests and analysing the results can take time. One of the main advantages of an antigen test is the speed of the test, which can provide results in minutes."

But antigen tests may not detect all active infections and are not as sensitive as molecular PCR tests. Hence, positive results are highly accurate, but there is a higher chance of false negatives. So negative results do not rule out infection, the FDA said. Similarly, ICMR has said negative results need to be confirmed with a PCR test prior to making treatment decisions or to prevent the possible spread of the virus.

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Workers cleaning a train coach temporarily converted into isolation wards for Covid-19 patients in New Delhi on Monday