A total of 341 teams were involved in the rapid-antigen testing that makes results available within 30 minutes
The Delhi government commenced COVID-19 testing through rapid antigen methodology at 169 centres in and around containment zones of the city.
A total of 341 teams were involved in the rapid-antigen testing that makes results available within 30 minutes, an official said.
The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) said a certificate will be issued to those tested at various centres, subject to clearance from the AIIMS and the Indian Council of Medical Research.
According to Union Minister G Kishan Reddy, the Centre plans to conduct six lakh rapid antigen tests at these 169 facilities.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, “Two important things happened today. COVID-19 testing rates in Delhi have been reduced to Rs 2,400 and rapid-antigen testing has started. I hope people won’t face any problem in getting themselves tested now.”
Officials said 4,500 rapid antigen tests were conducted in Delhi till 3 pm.
At many centres, testing began as early as 9 am. People with mild symptoms or no symptoms can get themselves tested, another official said.
Those who came to get themselves tested at a centre in Sunlight Colony in southeast Delhi said the entire process took only about an hour. The centre started operating at 10 am and by around 5 pm as many, as 125 swab samples were collected, a healthcare worker said.
Around 1,000 tests were conducted by 8 pm at 44 centres in south Delhi, according to a senior official.
“After arriving here, we went to the registration desk. After waiting for about half-an-hour, we were tested. The testing process took only five to seven minutes,” Alex Samuel, 20, said, adding, “The authorities told us the results will be sent via SMSes on Friday.”
A healthcare worker at the testing centre said each testing kit costs Rs 450 and can provide results within 30 minutes as compared to RT-PCR test that takes three to four hours.
The kits, called Standard Q COVID-19 Ag detection, have been developed by South Korean company SD Biosensor. The testing method involves looking for antibodies which are produced when the body is exposed to a pathogen.
If a person has antibodies associated with novel coronavirus, it means the person is either COVID-19 positive or has recovered.
“It is an easy and cheaper method to detect asymptomatic cases,” another healthcare worker said.
According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, suspected individuals who test negative for COVID-19 in rapid-antigen tests should undergo RT-PCR test to rule out the infection. While positive test results should be considered as true positive and do not need reconfirmation by RT-PCR test, it said.
The Ministry of Home Affairs on Monday said testing will be tripled by Saturday.
Last week, the Delhi government, which has been scrambling to find beds for coronavirus patients, warned that there could be 5.5 lakh cases by the end of July – something it is not prepared to deal with. Hospitals will need at least 80,000 more beds, the government cautioned.