The proportional rates of the Reverse Transcription–Polymerase Chain Reaction (RTPCR) tests and Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) in Bengal are raising questions regarding the Trinamool Congress’ Diamond Harbor model. According to the health department, the positivity rate in RTPCR in the state is still more than 30 percent. However, the positivity rate in the RAT is only 4 percent. The Center has suggested emphasizing on the RTPCR test to understand the dynamics of the infection and maintain the accurate data. But, for the last one week, the opposite is happening in the state. According to the data, RTPCR has been only 36 per cent of the total Tests in the state in the last 24 hours. On the other hand, the testing rate of the RAT has been 72 percent.
Health officials say the increase in the number of tests in the South 24 Parganas is due to the Diamond Harbor Bulletin. Since January 18, only a large number of antigen test statistics have been accepted in the South 24 Parganas. In doing so, the data-balance between RTPCR and RAT has been disturbed. That is what some of the officials of the health department think.
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in this case has made it clear that if the dynamics of the infection are to be understood, the RTPCR test must be emphasized. If the report of the RAT test is positive, then it is positive. However, if RAT comes negative, then the Center in that case has asked to conduct RTPCR test again to ensure the precision of the data. Nevertheless, in Bengal, the picture is opposite. The positivity rate in RTPCR is still 30 percent, and 4 percent in the antigen tests. As a result, a controversy has brewed over the testing statistics.
RTPCR labs are now in every district. Health officials say there is no shortage of the RTPCR kits, and are constantly urging people to go for the RTPCR.
