NMC, ZP begin antibody tests in non-containment zones

Nagpur: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) and zilla parishad (ZP) have started

antibody tests in non-containment zones

to identify spread of Covid-19 in areas where positive cases are yet to be seen. The district administration also found that results of Rapid Antigen Test are more accurate as compared to real time PCR testing done in state-run laboratories.

Officials from NMC and ZP told TOI, “District received 2,400 kits for antibody tests. NMC and ZP have been distributed 850 each. We started doing 700 tests in non-containment zones and 150 in containment zones each in our limits since Tuesday. NMC has completed 550 tests while ZP did 300 till Sunday. Tests in containment zones will be carried out after completion in non-containment zones. Remaining 700 kits will be used for testing front-line workers.”

The officials added blood samples have been collected and submitted to IGGMCH for antibody tests. The results will help contain spread of Covid-19, since only awareness was being created in non-containment zones till date.

The district has also received 5,000 kits of Rapid Antigen Test. Before bringing it into use, the district administration has cross checked the results with state-run laboratories.

An official told TOI, “Swab samples of some persons from Central Jail and Katol were taken and tested with Rapid Antigen Test on July 2. Of these, 31 tested positive for Covid-19. The swab samples of these 31 were taken again and sent for testing at state-run laboratories, where 30 tested positive. Only one sample tested negative, probably due to improper collection of swab.”

After cross checking, the district administration started using Rapid Antigen Test at Central Jail and Zilla Parishad in Nagpur Rural.

As on Sunday, 1,783 tests had been done using Rapid Antigen kits, including 450 at Central Jail, of which 177 tested positive. Remaining 1,333 tests were done in Nagpur Rural of which 25 tested positive, including 20 in Kamptee, 4 in Katol and 1 in Hingna.

A ZP official said, “Rapid Antigen Test is proving very beneficial in rural areas. Earlier, team from IGGMCH or GMCH in city had to go to rural areas, take samples, go back and test in laboratories. Results took 2-3 days. We trained our medical staff including lab technicians, doctors and even some nurses to take samples and test swab of high-risk contacts of positive persons using Rapid Antigen Kits. Also, some kits are being used in containment zones to test high-risk persons like senior citizens etc. It helps in early results and further help isolation, treatment etc.”

ZP is also likely to use Rapid Antigen Test kits on people coming from hotspots like Mumbai, Pune and other states.

NMC has reportedly not got Rapid Antigen Kits probably due to availability of state-run laboratories within city limits. “It can be used to test high-risk persons in containment zones, as not all are ready to come to quarantine centres and get tested. Some contacts of positive patients like senior citizens, pregnant women etc are also not willing to move to quarantine centres, so they can be tested using it. Also, it can be useful if tested on people arriving via airways etc,” a NMC official said.