After the Delhi high court asked the state government to re-strategise its policy to include asymptomatic patients for testing, the advisory was released by the ICMR.
Even as it has allowed states to adapt to the recommendation as per their requirements, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has now allowed testing on-demand for Covid-19. “ICMR’s advisory is generic in nature and may be modified as per the discretion of state health authorities,” the agency said in it’s advisory.
After the Delhi high court asked the state government to re-strategise its policy to include asymptomatic patients for testing, the advisory was released by the ICMR. It is just an advisory body and states were free to make changes as per their needs, the ICMR told the court.
Situations, where molecular testing such as reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) should be preferred over the cheaper and faster but less accurate RAT, have been listed In the strategy.
“Ideally, it is suggested that 100% of people living in the containment zones should be tested by RAT particularly in cities where there has been a widespread transmission of the infection,” ICMR guidelines said.
The ICMR strategy, in non-containment areas, suggests that preference should be given to molecular methods to test all those with influenza-like symptoms, all symptomatic contacts of confirmed cases, and all asymptomatic high-risk contacts. For routine surveillance of all symptomatic travellers within seven days of illness and healthcare or frontline workers involved in Covid-19 management, testing methods like RT-PCR should also be used.
Molecular tests should be preferred over RAT within hospitals for testing those with severe acute respiratory infections, all patients with influenza-like symptoms, all asymptomatic high-risk contacts in need of hospitalisation, asymptomatic patients undergoing surgery or other invasive procedures, and all pregnant women in or near labour, the ICMR strategy says.
No emergency procedure should be delayed for the want of a test, the ICMR guidelines further state.
“All arrangements should be made to collect and transfer samples to a testing facility. Mothers, who test positive for the infection, have been advised to wear masks, wash hands frequently while handling babies, and cleaning breasts before feeding them,” it added.
All neonates with acute respiratory or sepsis-like illnesses– or those with non-respiratory symptoms such as fever, lethargy, poor feeding, seizures, and diarrhea — should be tested for Covid-19 using RT-PCR, the new strategy says.
The strategy also suggests testing those with the atypical presentations for Covid-19 such as stroke, encephalitis, blood mixed sputum, pulmonary embolism, acute heart conditions, etc.
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