Amid rise in coronavirus cases, comes a positive news for Mumbaikars: The BMC which started conducting antigen tests is turning to be a success. It is said these antigen tests are 99 per cent accurate as compared to the RT-PCR tests, which take a longer time to show result, reported Mid-Day.
According to the report, BMC began using the antigen tests last week for people living between Dahisar and Malad. This was done to extend the scope of testing along with the real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests. While the rapid antigen tests give results within 30 minutes, there was apprehension about their accuracy.
As per the report, BMC has conducted 3,500 antigen tests till Saturday evening and 340 people have tested positive. Suresh Kakani, additional municipal commissioner told the tabloid that the antigen test results are matching up to 99 per cent with the RT-PCR test results.
Earlier, in a statement, the ICMR said it has facilitated and approved rapid-antigen test for COVID-19 that gives results in 30 minutes in order to fast track reliable and affordable testing essentially in high containment areas.
The rapid antigen kits, called Standard Q COVID-19 Ag detection, have been developed by South Korean company S D Biosensor. The testing method involves looking for antibodies that are produced when the body is exposed to a pathogen.
Meanwhile, with 1,263 new COVID-19 cases being recorded on Sunday, Mumbai's case count has mounted to 92,720, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said. The number of fatalities has gone up by 44 to 5,285, it said in a statement. Mumbai's COVID-19 recovery rate now stands at 70 per cent while the doubling rate has improved to 50 days. A total of 3,91,222 samples have been tested till July 11, the BMC added.
