Fresh advisory on testing issued
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, June 12 2021: Health Services director Dr K Rajo Singh on Friday issued the 'Updated Advisory on Strategy for Covid-19 Testing in Manipur', which will come into force with immediate effect.

The new advisory is in pursuance of the ICMR's 'Advisory for Covid-19 testing during the second wave of the pandemic' issued on May 4 and in supersession of previous office memorandum of September 17, 2020.In an order, Dr Rajo stated that for routine surveillance in containment zones and screening at points of entry the choice of test will be Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) on all symptomatic contacts/cases including healthcare and frontline workers as well as all asymptomatic direct contacts of confirmed case to be tested once between day 5 and 10 of coming into contact.

For routine surveillance in non-containment areas the choice of test in order of priority will be RT-PCR/TrueNat/ CBNAAT and RAT, it added.

The updated advisory mentioned that in health care settings the choice of test in order of priority will be RT-PCR/TrueNat/CBNAAT and RAT for all symptomatic and asymptomatic patients, patients diagnosed with malignant disease, transplant patients, patients with chronic co-morbidities, elderly of 65 years or above.

The said tests will also be done on asymptomatic patients undergoing surgical/non-surgical invasive procedures once a week during hospital stay.

The advisory continued that tests will also be conducted as per the advisory in healthcare settings on all pregnant women in/near labor, although no emergency procedure (including deliveries) should be delayed for lack of test.

Pregnant women should not be referred for a lack of testing facility.

All arrangements should be made to collect and transfer samples to testing facilities.

Mothers who test positive for Covid-19 should be advised to wear mask and undertake frequent hand washing while handling their baby for 14 days.

They should also be advised on breast cleaning before feeding the neonate.

These measures are likely to reduce transmission of Covid-19 to their babies, it said.

The advisory stated that for testing on demand, the choice of test will be RAT for all individuals undertaking travel to countries/states mandating a negative Covid-19 test at point of entry, all individuals who wish to get themselves tested and all the persons who require testing prior to police/judicial custody or joining duty.

Elaborating on frequency of testing, the advisory said that a single RT-PCR/Tru- eNaT/CBNAAT/RAT positive test irrespective of symptomatic/asymptomatic is to be considered confirmatory, without any repeat testing.

No re-testing is recommended prior to discharge from a Covid-19 facility after clinical recovery, including for transfer from a Covid area/facility to a non-Covid area/facility.

Symptomatic cases identified as negative by RAT should be retested with RT-PCR and they should be advised to follow home isolation and treatment.

The vaccination status of all individuals tested for Covid-19 must be entered into the Sample Referral Form (SRF) in the RTPCR app, both for Individuals tested by RTP- CR and RAT.

All public and private healthcare facilities should mandatorily upload the daily testing data into the ICMR portal by using the login credentials provided to them, it further said.

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