India has shifted back its focus to RT-PCR, the so-called “gold standard” for coronavirus diagnosis, 2 weeks after illustrating plans to launch antibody tests on a mass scale.

Senior government officials told ET that the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) will not place any new orders for antibody rapid test kits. As an alternative, it has asked manufacturers of RT-PCR (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) kits to increase production.

The ICMR had lifted tenders to obtain both RT-PCR and antibody test kits. But, the government has decided to go slow on these antibody tests, which are giving fast results, but the accuracy is been questioned.

The official stated that few orders of antibody kits were placed with South Korea and two Indian companies. These orders are still pending but no fresh orders will be placed. He also repeated that the orders for 2 million test kits with two Chinese firms are cancelled. He said that these kits are substandard and are not working. In the meantime, domestic manufacturers of RT-PCR kits have been asked to increase their production.

The official also said that in spite of limited involvement from private laboratories, they have been able to conduct 50,000 tests per day. And the main idea is to scale up these tests to 1, 00,000 tests per day.

A public health activist said on the condition of anonymity that having problem with antibody test kits, authorities have failed to provide a clear regulation on coronavirus. A lot of complexities were introduced by the government, regarding rapid testing, plasma therapy or even the use of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). Many public health activists stated that validating HCQ without any evidence was questionable.

The health ministry on Tuesday had warned that there was not sufficient evidence to support the use of plasma therapy for COVID-19 treatment, as several states had started doing this therapy on patients.

Also, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has been urging people who have recovered from the COVID-19 disease to come forward and donate plasma for critical coronavirus patients. On Sunday, around 350 Tablighi Jamaat members who had recovered from the coronavirus infection donated their plasma.

Healthcare lawyer Murali Neelakantan said there had been lot of discrepancies on the authorities’ side, saying that one day they say HCQ cannot be exported and the next day they lift the ban. Then they start admitting people and then they say that people with mild symptoms can remain at home. There is no clear plan and strategy and science has a plan. The communication are taken over by the officials, politicians and the government puts forward it as science, which is scary.

Public health experts also stated that inadequate testing due to lack of coordination has shown a mixed up response to the coronavirus.

All India Drugs Action Network co-convener Malini Aisola said that government’s denial to provide clear guidelines on several fronts and particularly turning a blind eye to overcharging price by private sector in presence of unclear rules is perplexing.

Source: ET Healthworld