COVID-19 cases rise, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has approved antigen test for coronavirus that can give results in just 30 minutes.ICMR and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) have recommended antigen test in view of its high specificity while relatively low sensitivity.
Known as the Standard Q COVID-19 Ag kit, the antigen test has been developed by a South Korean biotechnology firm SD Biosensor.
Each kit will cost ₹450 and can show results within 30 minutes as opposed to RTPCR test that takes 3-4 hours.The ICMR advised to use the kits along with the RT-PCR test.
Suspected individuals who test negative for COVID-19 by rapid antigen test should be tested by RT-PCR to rule out the infection.