ICMR asks states not to use Coronavirus rapid test kits for 2 days at least

New Delhi : ICMR has directed the Indian states to not use the rapid test coronavirus kits for at least 2 days. This comes amid reports of complaints of it being not providing appropriate results.

Around 5 lakh Rapid Test kits were procured by the government and distributed around the country after the ICMR recommended that every resident in coronavirus hot-spots - or areas with a large number of cases - will be tested for the virus. 

Several states, including Rajasthan, have now complained about the Rapid Test kits. Rajasthan today stopped tests through the new kits, saying they had only 5.4 per cent accuracy.

"You all know that Rapid Test Kits were distributed to all states. One state said there are inaccuracies in these test kits. We confirmed this with three states and found that the findings were true to an extent. This is not a good sign. We are working on it," the ICMR's Raman R Gangakhedkar told reporters at the daily news briefing today.

The medical body claimed that they will be sending the health representatives to these states and cross check the results to come to a conculsion. 

"Till then, we advise all states not to use this. In two days, we will be in a position to give a detailed report on this. If the batch of rapid test kits is found faulty, we will ask that company to replace all kits," said Dr Gangakhedkar, who is the head of epidemiology at the ICMR.