TN to begin rapid tests for people with flu symptoms

“All symptomatic individuals will be tested using rapid antibody testing kits and will be put under home quarantine for 14 days to check for exposure to the virus,” said a health department official. “Such a testing protocol will help in identifying more cases at an earlier stage.”

As per the testing protocol, if the antibody test results are negative, the realtime RT-PCR test will be done only if necessary, based on the symptoms. “If not required, the RT-PCR test will not be done but the person will be home quarantined. A repeat antibody test will be followed after 10 days of the last rapid-test and if tested positive, the patient will be kept under home quarantine for another 10 days as it indicates risk of infection and taken for clinical treatment at the hospital,” the official pointed. However, if the antibody test results turn out to be positive, the individual will be taken for treatment in a hospital after clinical assessment and kept under isolation as per protocol.

“The protocol on rapid testing kits is what has been recommended by the Indian Council of Medical Research. The antibody test results will be confirmed through a PCR test if it’s positive,” said public health director Dr K Kolandaisamy.