Use TrueNAT kits to clear pending 16,000 COVID confirmation tests: CBN

Amaravati : Former chief minister and leader of the opposition in Andhra Pradesh N. Chandrababu Naidu has dashed off a letter to the YSRCP government regarding 16,000 pending COVID test results. Delay in results may lead to wider dispersal of the virus.

In a letter address to the chief secretary of AP he said, “One of the major reasons for less number of confirmation tests and delayed results is due to lack of COVID confirmation testing laboratories. Currently, there are only eight confirmation testing labs causing delay in test results. It is pertinent for the government of AP to partner with private testing labs to determine COVID’s presence.”

According to the former CM, the previous TDP government had put in place around 250 TrueNAT test kits for effective control of tuberculosis in Andhra Pradesh. “It is proven that TrueNAT test kits are helpful in detecting those who are 100% COVID negative. The cases which are COVID positive may be sent for RT PCR test for confirmation. Accordingly, the government should use TrueNAT test kits for determining COVID negative at a far more pace,” suggested Mr. Chandrababu Naidu.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has approved TrueNAT kits for screening for COVID.

As on April 23^rd, three more COVID-19 deaths were reported in Andhra Pradesh while the hotbeds continued to register new positive cases as the toll increased to 27 on Thursday. The number of infected shot up to 893 with the addition of 80 new cases in the last 24 hours.

Two deaths were reported from Kurnool district and Krishna district reported one death. So far Guntur district has reported 8 deaths, highest in the State followed by Kurnool and Krishna districts with 7 deaths each.

The leader of the opposition, goes on to suggest the AP government use the TrueNAT kits. “ICMR has categorically stated that RT PCR test is the only confirmation test. The previous government had linked the TrueNAT test results of TB with real time governance (RTG), thereby giving the leverage to the government to initiate real action. The government has to increase the number of TrueNAT careening centres and link the same with real time governance to act in real time,” he suggested.