Plea in HC on using only kits cleared by virology institute or EEU for COVID-19 tests

Chennai, Apr 25 () A lawyer has approached theMadras High Court seeking a direction to the Union and stategovernments to use only rapid test kits that have been testedto be satisfactory either by National Institute of Virology orby European Economic Union for coronavirus tests.

According to the petitioner, there was very highglobal demand for testing kits and specifically rapid testingkits for diagnosis of COVID-19.

There have been reported instances of defective orineffective rapid test kits of Chinese origin been sold tothose in desperate need for some form of testing in theirpursuit to stop spread of the virus.

Spain and Turkey have been victims to such sale ofdefective/ineffective kits, he said.

He further submitted that test results have beenfound to be erroneous with both false negatives and falsepositives thereby making the exercise of test with the kits afutile one.

Some states like Punjab have returned these kits backto the Indian Council of Medical Research.

Subsequently, on April 21 ICMR instructed all thestates to halt testing for the virus using the rapid test kitswhich do not confirm to the standards declared by it.

In these circumstances, the petitioner wanted thecourt to direct the authorities to only use kits that areapproved by the two institutions. COR BNWELCOME BNWELCOME