ICMR approves PanBio Test Kit

Indian Council of Medical Research, ICMR has approved second home-based Rapid Antigen Test kit named “PanBio COVID-19”. This test kit was developed by Abbott Rapid Diagnostics Division, Chicago.

Highlights

The self-use kit has been given provisional approval till 5th July. Price of the kit will be declared by after July 5. Earlier, ICMR had given its approval to “CoviSelf test kit” which was developed by Pune-based Mylab Discovery Solutions.

About PanBio Test Kit

PanBio COVID-19 Ag Rapid Test kit comprise of a membrane strip. Strip is pre-coated with immobilized anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody on test line and mouse monoclonal anti-chicken on control line. Two types of conjugates move upward on membrane chromatographically to react with anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody as well as mouse monoclonal anti-chicken.

ICMR Advisory on Use of self-test kits

ICMR issued an advisory on use of self-test kits. According to it, Rapid Antigen test is advised only for symptomatic individuals and immediate contacts of positive cases. Apart from that, home testing mobile app available in Google play store and Apple store, which users has to mandatorily download. This mobile app is a comprehensive guide of testing procedure. It will also provide a positive or negative test result to patient. All users need to click picture of test strip after completing test procedure with same mobile phone that was used to download the app and for registration. Individuals who test positive will be considered as true positives while symptomatic individuals who test negative will be tested again by RT PCR.

Month: Current Affairs - June, 2021