COVID-19: BMC plans to buy one lakh antigen testing kits

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation is planning to buy one lakh antigen testing kits to ensure quick results for suspected COVID-19 patients, an official said on Wednesday.

According to a release issued on Tuesday, the civic body has initiated Mission Universal Testing, under which it will use ICMR-approved antigen testing kits that provide results within 15 to 30 minutes.

These kits will be used at all civic, state-run hospitals and COVID-19 treatment facilities to test suspected patients and ensure timely treatment, the release stated.

At present, RT-PCR tests are being used to detect infections, but the results of antigen tests will be comparatively faster, the civic body said.

Under Mission Universal Testing, the BMC plans to increase the testing capacity from 4,500 to 6,500, the release stated.