The maximum interpretation time for a positive or negative test is 30 minutes (performance)
New Delhi:
As economic activities gradually resume, companies increasingly opt for rapid antigen and antibody testing to screen for and protect their employees against the coronavirus, several diagnostic laboratories and hospitals in the NCR have said.
The rapid antigen test was introduced in the nation’s capital last month and is a faster and cheaper alternative to the “gold standard” RT-PCR test, considered more reliable.
“We receive requests for antigen testing primarily through the government. We also get requests from companies that have a large employee population who wish to do this for their employees because one or two of their employees have tested positive, ”said Chetan Kohli, COO of Seeds of Innocence and Genestrings Lab.
The Q COVID-19 Ag Standard Detection Kit (Rapid Antigen Test Kits) is a rapid chromatographic immunoassay for the qualitative detection of specific antigens of SARS-CoV-2 or the novel coronavirus.
Standard Q COVID-19 Ag detection can be interpreted as positive or negative within 15 minutes of introducing the sample into the well by the appearance of test and control lines, which can be read by eye naked, requiring no specialized equipment.
The maximum interpretation time for a positive or negative test is 30 minutes.
After the introduction of the rapid antigen test, labs say people are increasingly interested in getting tested.
Zoya Brar, CEO and founder of Gurgaon-based CORE Diagnostics, also said he has received requests from companies in various industries such as manufacturing, services and travel to help them test their employees for antigens.
She said they approach the requests taking into account a variety of parameters, including the location of the business, infrastructure, number of employees, and more.
“As a result, we will share our action plan. We are currently in discussions with them to speed up the process,” she added.
Some labs are receiving requests from companies about antibody tests, which are designed to detect antibodies against the virus responsible for the deadly COVID-19 disease.
Antibodies are proteins produced by the immune system in response to infection and are found in the bloodstream.
The test requires that a sample be taken from a person’s arm and it is then tested for a type of antibody called immunoglobulin G (IgG).
Dr Geeta Chopra, laboratory director of the Delhi branch of Metropolis Labs, said that in the nation’s capital, they have organized three or four camps to perform antibody tests for companies, while in Mumbai the camps were conducted on a larger scale. .
In Unlock 3, which goes into effect on August 1, the requests will increase further, she said.
“In Delhi, we do more antibody tests than antigen tests. Companies are asking for more about antibody testing. The point is, when you do antigen, you have to do it on symptomatic patients and join them. We receive requests for antibody tests, ”she said.
The senior doctor said they receive more than 150-200 inquiries from commoners daily, while companies often conduct tests en masse.
Dr Arjun Dang, CEO of Dr Dangs Lab, said he has received a number of inquiries from companies based in Delhi as well as those elsewhere in the country seeking to reopen.
“Getting the antibody tests for a large company that is trying to unlock or reopen adds a lot of value as it helps them plan to open. What I mean by that is companies are getting tested. mass for their employees. IgG antibodies, ”he says.
The IgG antibody begins to be produced after three weeks of probable exposure, he said, adding that the antibody test is not a diagnostic technique but is exclusively used for monitoring and to indicate exposure. passed to the virus.
The test result indicates whether a person has recovered or is recovering and the body has successfully produced an immune response in the form of igG antibodies.
“The companies plan to open up gradually. They give preference to employees for start-up operations who test positive for IgG antibodies.
“Although IgGs indicate past exposure and the body’s immune response, the most recent literature and studies indicate that these antibodies do not last more than a few months,” Dang warned.
However, he said people who test positive for antibodies are more likely to be re-infected in the coming months.
“Companies are trying to pick up people who have antibodies and use them as frontline workers,” he said.
“We have done a few camps and are planning to conduct more tests in companies. Even the smallest companies and small offices are opting for this. It is more about raising awareness of antibody testing,” he said. -he adds.
(Except for the title, this story was not edited by GalacticGaming staff and is posted from a syndicated feed.)
