Covid19 testing methods and pool testing in India

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Covid19 testing methods. 

(Pool testing in India)

By Upal

I have collected data from goodrx.com, Aljazeera.com, Wikipedia.com, timesofindia.com  and others to give you a glipmse of testing methods for Covid19.
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The Novel Coronavirus  has so far wreaked a havoc all over the world.  With no vaccine or any established medicine, testing people and isolating affected ones' looks to be the only solution. The WHO is also emphasizing on testing. Today I will write about the methods of Covid19 testing.
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In early January, China revealed  the genetic sequence of coronavirus. Then the CDC developed the first test kit to detect Covid19. As Covid19 cases started growing all over the world, many private medical organizations started developing test kits for Covid19 based on sample from the CDC. The FDA Food and Drug Administration (FDA or USFDA) has provided a guidence which allows developers to test patients prior to the FDA's review.
Now let's talk about the common testing processes of Covid19.

NAAT (Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests) tests

NAAT test is WHO recomended commonly used testing process. In this process, a sample of mixture of mucous and saliva of the suspected is collected from the back of nose. The samples are brought to laboratory for  rRT-PCR  (Real time Reverse-transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction)  process to detect presence of specific genetic material from the pathogen. This can take 4-5 hours or even a day to detect the presence of virus in human body.

Serological test

Serological test is used to detect presence of antibodies created against the Coronavirus in blood. This test works when one grows antibody or protection against the virus. But this test is very fast in supplying result.

However, other countries are also trying to grow rapid test kits. But experts say those kit have an error rate of around 30%. We all know how dangerous it is to let a single Covid19 patiant go.

Developing countries are mulling to cope up with the pandemic. Now they need low cost, effective kits to ramp up testing. A group of scientists of Gonoshasthaya Kendra from Bangladesh vows to make a 3$ tests kit. We will get to you about that soon.

By this time, West Bengal, a state of India is allowing pool testing. They are using 5 samples from 5 patients  together for NAAT test. If the result is negative, all of the 5 suspects  are released. If it results positive, samples will be tested respectively. Initial results of pool testing shows 2% average contamination in the tested areas.

ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) suggests pool testing in areas with 5% or less contamination rate. ICMR also suggest poll testing for doctors and health workers directly connected with Covid19 treatment . This can help saving time and test kits while mass testing.

We will come about

• Bangladesh low cost test kit for Covid19.
• India on the right way to contain the pandemic? 

Soon!
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