Only high-risk categories based on age or comorbidity need to get tested: ICMR

The Indian Council of Medical Research or ICMR said on Monday said that contacts of Covid-19 patients do not need to be tested unless identified as high-risk based on age

The Indian Council of Medical Research or ICMR said on Monday said that contacts of Covid-19 patients do not need to be tested unless identified as high-risk based on age or comorbidities.

In a fresh set of guidelines, the top medical body said high-risk contacts of patients would be those above 60 years of age and individuals with co-morbidities like diabetes, hypertension, chronic lung or kidney disease, malignancy and obesity.

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Further, the ICMR Advisory on Purposive Testing Strategy for Covid-19 said tests may be undertaken as per the discretion of the treating doctor with certain considerations.

Asymptomatic patients undergoing surgical or non-surgical invasive procedures, including pregnant women in or near labour who are hospitalised for delivery should not be tested unless warranted or symptoms develop.

It said no emergency procedure, including surgeries, should be delayed due to lack of a test. Also, patients should not be referred to other facilities for lack of testing facilities.

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The advisory further said individuals undertaking inter-state domestic travels also do not need to get tested.

It said testing can be undertaken either through RT-PCR, TrueNat, CBNAAT, CRISPR, RT-LAMP, Rapid Molecular Testing Systems, or through Rapid Antigen Test.

Besides, symptomatic individuals, testing negative on home or self-test or RAT should undertake RT-PCR test, the ICMR notification stated.

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