<p>The West Bengal government has started identifying areas where it will undertake rapid antibody testing of suspected coronavirus patients, officials said on Monday.</p>.<p>The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has given its consent for such testing in coronavirus clusters and hotspots.</p>.<p>A rapid test, which is a screening test, can detect if a person has COVID-19 with a prick of a needle on the finger and the result can be obtained in just 30 minutes, the official said.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-news-live-updates-karnataka-sees-12-more-covid-19-cases-indias-tally-reaches-4348-817763.html"><strong>For latest updates on coronavirus outbreak, click here</strong></a></p>.<p>All the positive cases will, however, have to be reconfirmed by testing the swab samples.</p>.<p>"As soon as the areas are identified, we will decide on the next step to start rapid testing, a state health department official said.</p>.<p>At present, there are at least 30 National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration (NABL) accredited laboratories in Kolkata that have the facility for rapid testing, he added.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-india-update-state-wise-total-number-of-confirmed-cases-deaths-on-april-6-821874.html?_ga=2.229215060.996461271.1585384294-607279861.1585015039"><strong>Coronavirus India update: State-wise total number of confirmed cases, deaths on April 6</strong></a></p>.<p>Even before the ICMR gave the nod, some private laboratories in the city had started procuring necessary equipment for rapid testing.</p>.<p>According to the latest ICMR advisory, rapid antibody testing would be undertaken in all areas reporting clusters of COVID-19 positive cases.</p>.<p>The test will also cost less than what is incurred on testing swab samples, the official said.</p>
<p>The West Bengal government has started identifying areas where it will undertake rapid antibody testing of suspected coronavirus patients, officials said on Monday.</p>.<p>The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has given its consent for such testing in coronavirus clusters and hotspots.</p>.<p>A rapid test, which is a screening test, can detect if a person has COVID-19 with a prick of a needle on the finger and the result can be obtained in just 30 minutes, the official said.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-news-live-updates-karnataka-sees-12-more-covid-19-cases-indias-tally-reaches-4348-817763.html"><strong>For latest updates on coronavirus outbreak, click here</strong></a></p>.<p>All the positive cases will, however, have to be reconfirmed by testing the swab samples.</p>.<p>"As soon as the areas are identified, we will decide on the next step to start rapid testing, a state health department official said.</p>.<p>At present, there are at least 30 National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration (NABL) accredited laboratories in Kolkata that have the facility for rapid testing, he added.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-india-update-state-wise-total-number-of-confirmed-cases-deaths-on-april-6-821874.html?_ga=2.229215060.996461271.1585384294-607279861.1585015039"><strong>Coronavirus India update: State-wise total number of confirmed cases, deaths on April 6</strong></a></p>.<p>Even before the ICMR gave the nod, some private laboratories in the city had started procuring necessary equipment for rapid testing.</p>.<p>According to the latest ICMR advisory, rapid antibody testing would be undertaken in all areas reporting clusters of COVID-19 positive cases.</p>.<p>The test will also cost less than what is incurred on testing swab samples, the official said.</p>