Delhi has conducted more than 9.46 lakh of COVID-19 tests to date, and experts attribute the high number to rapid antigen tests that started last month.
Experts believe the rapid antigen test has changed the script of the national capital due to its affordability, faster results, and its ability to serve as a rapid diagnostic tool.
Rapid antigen tests started in Delhi from June 18.
The total number of tests carried out in the national capital is 9.46,777 to date, which means 49,830 tests per million.
Up to 17,533 tests have been performed in the last 24 hours, including 12,501 rapid antigen tests and 5,032 RT-PCR tests.
Between March 4 and June 4, Delhi performed 2.36,506 COVID-19 tests. Following the numbers, it means that after June 4, the national capital conducted almost seven lakh tests.
Test numbers have increased since June 18, when testing began in the city using the rapid antigen kits.
Delhi has 56 laboratories, 22 governmental and 34 private, which carry out RT-PCR tests to detect COVID-19.
City labs and health experts recognize that rapid antigen testing reduces the burden of RT-PCR testing, helping to faster identify cases and reduce the risk of infection spreading.
Dr. Sumit Sharma, dean of the Indian Spinal Injury Center, said the tests have played an important role in controlling the spread of cases.
"Asymptomatic patients are being detected and isolated now, and symptomatic patients are being isolated earlier than before when the evidence was limited. Early treatment has reduced infection," he said.
Rattan Gurnani, general manager of operations and corporate, City X-Ray and Scan Clinic, said the government has been very aggressive in testing and makes sure tests are conducted in all containment areas.
"They have targeted all districts, making more tests, better diagnosis, and faster isolation and results. The number of RT-PCR tests has dropped from 700-800 before to 400 to 500 per day." . said.
The situation is similar in other laboratories and facilities.
In the Genestrings lab, between 1,000 and 1,200 tests were performed daily before the rapid antigen test began, but it has now been reduced to 200 tests per day.
According to Chetan Kohli, director of operations, Seeds of Innocence and Genestrings Lab, rapid antigen tests have also helped laboratories process samples faster.
"Previously, the time needed to process the samples would be between 24 and 48 hours, but now it is 24 hours," he said.
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