The Chhattisgarh government has barred the use of rapid antibody test kit to detect coronavirus in private hospitals or labs in the state, officials said on Sunday. But the test can be conducted after taking permission from the government.
The Director of Health Services, Neeraj Bansod, has written to all district Chief Medical Health Officers (CMHO) in this connection, an official press release said.
“ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) has permitted the use of rapid antibody test only for surveillance of coronavirus infection. If any private lab or hospital is using it without permission from the state government, then the concerned CMHO should promptly take action and inform the Directorate Health Services,” Bansod was quoted as saying in the press release.
Coronavirus infection has rapidly increased in Chhattisgarh in the last one month. By Saturday, the state had 7,087 positive cases and 39 people had lost their lives. So far 4,683 patients have recovered from the virus.