15 Maharashtra districts still using more rapid tests than RT-PCR

PUNE: A review of data has revealed that 15 districts, including Ahmednagar, Beed, Yavatmal, Nashik and Sangli, are still relying more on rapid test kits than the gold-standard RT-PCR for Covid-19 screening.
The state government had last week told officials in these districts to increase the share of RT-PCR tests. Ideally, regions are supposed to maintain RT-PCR testing at 70%.
But data from last week showed that in 22 districts, share of RT-PCR testing was below 60%.This week, 15 districts scored below 70%.
In Ahmednagar, collector RB Bhosale said he has instructed his team to ensure those testing positive via rapid kits are given an RT-PCR test again. “We’ve told our staff to keep a close watch on the antigen test reports. Those testing positive have to immediately upload the data to the portal and get an RT-PCR test, according to the guidelines,” he said.
Collectors of Beed and Yavatmal are ramping up labs to ensure they have more RT-PCR testing. Health officials said these districts have already been warned. Yavatmal, last week, had carried out just 281 RT-PCR tests. Nearly 26 districts last week were not even carrying out 140 tests per million (RT-PCR or RAT) — the norm set by the WHO. For example, Nandurbar recorded the lowest weekly testing, at just 175.
Officials in Nandurbar said not many people were coming forward for Covid testing. “Testing has been ramped up, but people are just not turning up,” one official said.