Karnataka has shifted its Covid-19 testing strategy by pushing for more rapid antigen tests, to cope with a rise in pressure to ramp up testing as the state experiences a sharp rise in coronavirus infection.
In Belagavi district 8000 kits have been received and 4500 tests have been completed as of now in the district out of which 60 have tested positive.
These tests are been done in Belagavi, Ramdurg, Khanapur, Athani, Raibag, Hukkeri.
RT-PCR test is time-consuming but is considered the gold standard in Covid testing, the rapid antigen tests are less sensitive and not so accurate. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the sensitivity of antigen is 50.5% to 84%.
ICMR advisory: People who get positive results on Antigen tests not to be retested on RT-PCR, but those who get negative results must be retested.