India achieves milestone of 40 crore COVID-19 sample testing

New Delhi: With average testing of more than 18 lakhs per day in the month of June, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has achieved the milestone of conducting 40 crores testing on 25th June, 2021. India has tested 40,18,11,892 samples across the country.

As on 1st June 2021, India had tested 35 crore COVID-19 samples, it reached 40 crore mark on 25th June, 2021. This has been enabled by rapidly increasing testing infrastructure and capacity across the country. ICMR has been enhancing COVID-19 testing capability across the country by expanding and diversifying testing capacity by leveraging technology and facilitating innovation in affordable diagnostic kits.

Prof (Dr.) Balram Bhargava, Director General, ICMR said, “We have effectively responded to the evolving epidemic through focused and collaborative efforts of the Centre, State/UTs government. Exponential increase in testing has led to early identification, prompt isolation & effective treatment of COVID-19 cases. These have eventually resulted in a sustained low fatality rate. This testing milestone are testimony to the fact that India has been successful in implementing strategy of 5T approach “Test, Track, Trace, Treat and use of Technology” efficiently, which will enable us to contain the spread of the pandemic.’’

ICMR’s concentrated efforts towards augmenting and diversifying testing prepared the infrastructure which made it possible to deliver on India’s increased testing requirements in the wake of the second wave of coronavirus. Focus on reducing turnaround time made it possible to conduct record sample testing.

ICMR has been enhancing COVID-19 testing capability across the country by leveraging technology and facilitating innovation in affordable diagnostic kits. It has ensured that a specific testing platform are made available addressing general testing (RT-PCR), High-throughput testing (COBAS), testing at remotest places and PHCs (TrueNAT, CBNAAT), in containment areas (rapid antigen testing) and for large number & migrant population testing (pooled sample testing). The total number of diagnostic laboratories has reached 2675. Of which dedicated government laboratories are 1676 and private laboratories number stands at 999.

Following ICMR’s approval to India’s first self-use Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) for COVID-19, it is encouraging self-test kits to reduce queues in laboratories, reduce costs, dissipate the burden on existing manpower for sample collection from homes, and provide results without delay.