Self-Test For Covid-19 At home With RAT Kit

Testing is one of the key aspects of tracing Covid-19. But many states across the country are not doing adequate tests and there is criticism on it. However respective state governments are defending their stand on low testing citing short supply of testing kits. In order to tackle this, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has approved home testing kits which could be useful.

The ICMR has approved Rapid Antigen Kits to conduct Covid test at home and simultaneously the nodal body has issued advisory to test at home. In the guidelines issued by ICMR, it is stated that only symptomatic individuals and immediate contacts of people who tested positive in the laboratory should use the home test.

Pune-based Mylab Discovery Solutions Ltd has developed CoviSelfTM (PathoCatch) COVID-19 OTC Antigen LF device and an app is developed to guide individuals to take up this test.

The individuals who take up the test should click a picture of the test strip after completing the test procedure and the data will be secured in a server which is connected with the ICMR Covid-19 testing portal. The ICMR assured that the details of individuals whether they test positive or negative would be kept confidential.

This home testing for Covid-19 would certainly relieve many government and private laboratories which are under pressure and there are also reports that they are charging double the amount which was fixed by the government.

However when would the device be out in the market and how would it cost are yet to be known.