Centre changes rules for COVID-19 tests, allows RAT for increasing testing
New Delhi, May 5, 2021: Centre Government has changes rules for COVID-19 testing and has issued new advisory to states to follow new rules.
In a major change it has now allowed Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) to be conducted for increasing testing instead of doing only RTPCR.
It has said that
• Symptomatic individuals identified positive by RAT should not be re-tested and shoud be advised to go through home-based care as per ICMR guidelines.
• Symptomatic individuals identified negative by RAT should be linked with RTPCR test facility and in the meantime be urged to follow home isolation and treatment.
It has said that no testing is required for COVID-19 recovered individuals at the time of hospital discharge and RTPCR test must not be repeated in any individual who has tested positive once either by RAT or RTPCR.
It also said that there is no need of RTPCR test of healthy individuals undertaking inter-state domestic travel and it should be completely removed to reduce the load on laboratories.
It also said that persons who have symptoms like flu etc should avoid non-essential travel and interstate trave and all asymptomatic individuals undertaking essential travel must follow COVID appropriate behavior.
It said that states should encouraged to augment RTPCR testing through mobile systems.