Indian Council of Medical Research, ICMR has issued advisory for COVID-19 testing during the second wave of the pandemic.<br />'' <br />''It said, at present, the laboratories are facing challenges to meet the expected testing target due to extraordinary case load and staff getting infected with COVID-19.<br />'' <br />''In view of this situation, it is imperative to optimize the RTPCR testing and simultaneously increase the access and availability of testing to all citizens of the country.<br />'' <br />''In its advisory, the ICMR has rcommended measures to optimize RTPCR testing.<br />'' <br />''It said, RTPCR test must not be repeated in any individual who has tested positive once either by RAT or RTPCR.<br />'' <br />''No testing is required for COVID-19 recovered individuals at the time of hospital discharge in accordance with the discharge policy of the Union Health Ministry.<br />'' <br />''Besides, the need for RTPCR test in healthy individuals undertaking inter-state domestic travel may be completely removed to reduce the load on laboratories.<br />'' <br />''Non-essential travel and interstate travel of symptomatic individuals should be essentially avoided to reduce the risk of infection.<br />'' <br />''All asymptomatic individuals undertaking essential travel must follow COVID appropriate behaviour.<br />'' <br />''The ICMR said, mobile testing laboratories are now available on GeM portal and States are encouraged to augment RTPCR testing through mobile systems.<br />'' <br />''With regard to measures to ramp up testing through Rapid antigen test (RAT), the ICMR said, RAT may be allowed at all available Government and private healthcare facilities. <br />'' <br />''Dedicated RAT booths should be set up in cities, towns and villages to offer testing to people.<br />'' <br />''It said, testing booths may be set up at multiple locations including healthcare facilities, RWA, offices, schools, colleges, community centers and other available vacant spaces.<br />'' <br />''These booths should be operational round the clock ato improve access and availability of testing.<br />'' <br />''It has also suggested that stringent measures must be instituted to avoid overcrowding at RAT testing facilities.<br />'' <br />''The ICMR said, all states are advised to ensure full utilization of the available RTPCR testing capacity, both in public and private laboratories.<br />'' <br />''Symptomatic individuals identified positive by RAT should not be re-tested and advised to go through home-based care as per ICMR guidelines.<br />'' <br />''It said, symptomatic individuals identified negative by RAT should be linked with RTPCR test facility and in the meantime be urged to follow home isolation and treatment.<br />'' <br />''It said, all RTPCR and RAT test results should be uploaded on ICMR portal.<br />'' <br />''<span style="color: #222222;">It also said that 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 RTPCR and RAT as this information is of critical importance.</span><br />