Health department to resume Rapid Antigen Tests at public places in Jamshedpur

Jamshedpur, March 22: In view of the rising number of Covid cases, the health department has decided to resume Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) on the go for symptomatic people at public places.

The health department has sought RAT kits from the Centre for conducting Covid tests on the go at railway stations, airports, malls, bus stands and other public places. However, the consignment is yet to be delivered, officials said.

RAT are also conducted through nasal and throat swabs like RT PCR tests. However, the result of the test is out within an hour. Doctors say that RAT is a low sensitivity test when compared to RT PCR, and may not be as accurate as the latter. The RT PCR test, on the other hand, takes around 48 hours, but the results are more accurate.

The official explained that rapid antigen tests detect the presence of viral proteins (antigens) expressed by the Covid-19 virus in a sample taken from the respiratory tract of a person.  ” The result of the test is made available within 15 minutes, ” he said adding that the objective is to trace, track and treat Covid positive patients. The East singhbhum health department has intensified the rapid antigen test drive keeping in view the spurt in covid-19 cases.

He further added that people should not expect any relief. People tend to go out more during this period, increasing the chances of exposure as well as spreading infection. The slight decline in daily cases in the last few days should not be interpreted as the end of the virus.

The official said that the department is also taking several preventive measures in view of the festive season. People who are visiting markets are being subjected to random testing. The department has set up a target to conduct more tests in the next 24 hours.