Kolkata: With only a little more than a month to go for two years of pandemic in Bengal, there are 2.3 Covid Crore tests conducted in the state since the end of February 2020, according to data issued by the Ministry of Health.
On top of this crore is a quick antigen test (mouse), where 10.3 lakh – or around 10% – was held last month, during the third wave of Omicron-fueled.
More than 50% of all Covid tests carried out in Bengal in the past month are the antigen test.
Whether home tests are taken into account, the figure will be much higher, experts believe.
“With a large amount affected this time, tests quickly help detect positively faster,” said Intensivist Sauren Panja.
“Unfortunately, some of them tested at home uploaded the results, who have kept hidden real numbers,” he added.
More than 21 Lakh tests were carried out in Bengal since December 28 last year, when Covid cases began to rise, with more than 10 lakh of those who were an antigen test.
And 5.8 lakh of 10 lakh rat tests were carried out in the last two weeks, disclosing data.
Mice get assistance during the third wave according to ICMR, lateral flow tests commonly used, such as fast antigen tests (rats) and home antigen tests (hats), assistance in early detection of Covid-19, between the third and eighth day (when the viral load is maximum) .
During the third wave, it appears as the backbone testing.
However, the RT-PCR test – which is considered a standard gold test during a previous surge – can detect certain non-infection RNA particles even after the eighth day, causing positive results.
Data shows that during the first two waves of pandemic, push this especially on RT-PCR.
But this gradually shifted into mice during the third wave, something recognized by the Main Minister Mamata Banerjee when he announced Covid relaxation on January 31.
Until January 17, the proportion of RT-PCR tests was significantly higher than mouse tests.
But for the next few days, an antigen test that is fast more than 50% of the total daily tests performed.
Banerjee said that transmission was faster than omicron rat tests – which vomited results in minutes – effective tools.