COVID-19 testing: Plea in Madras HC seeks direction to Centre, state govts to use only those kits cleared by virology institute or EEU
FirstpostA lawyer has approached the Madras High Court seeking a direction to the Union and state governments to use only rapid test kits for COVID-19 that have been tested to be satisfactory either by National Institute of Virology or by European Economic Union Chennai: A lawyer has approached the Madras High Court seeking a direction to the Union and state governments to use only rapid test kits that have been tested to be satisfactory either by National Institute of Virology or by European Economic Union for coronavirus tests. According to the petitioner, there was very high global demand for testing kits and specifically rapid testing kits for diagnosis of COVID-19. There have been reported instances of defective or ineffective rapid test kits of Chinese origin been sold to those in desperate need for some form of testing in their pursuit to stop spread of the virus. Subsequently, on 21 April ICMR instructed all the states to halt testing for the virus using the rapid test kits which do not confirm to the standards declared by it.