ICMR Approves Pune-Based MyLab's Rapid Antigen Test Kit 'CoviSelf' For Home Testing Of Covid-19

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has approved the Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) kit developed by Pune-based MyLabs Discovery Solutions for at-home testing of Covid-19.

The RAT kit can be used at home and is advisable only to symptomatic individuals and immediate-contacts of laboratory-confirmed positive cases, the ICMR said.

The medical research body has also advised against the indiscrimate use of the test.

In a statement, the ICMR advised the kit users to download a mobile app which is available for both Android and iOS operating systems, and use the same device where the app is installed to take a picture of the strip in the kit after the testing process is completed.

It said that the data from the app will be centrally captured in a secure server connected with ICMR's Covid-19 testing portal, adding that the confidentiality of the patient will be fully maintained.

All individuals who test positive may be considered as true positives and no repeat testing is required, the ICMR said.

Those testing negative should get themselves tested by RT-PCR method. Further, they may immediately be treated as "suspect Covid-19 cases" and have been advised to follow home-isolation protocol while awaiting the RT-PCR results.