Kerala returns 30,000 substandard antigen test kits

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala has sent back over 30,000 rapid antigen test kits used for diagnosing Covid-19 due to its poor quality. The test results obtained in over 5,000 kits were found inaccurate following which the remaining kits were returned.

The Kerala Medical Services Corporation had bought 1 lakh antigen test kits from Mylab Discovery Solutions based in Pune. Out of this, 62,858 kits were used. The test results from 5,020 kits were not identifiable. Following this, 32,122 kits worth Rs 4.59 lakh were returned.

The health secretary has issued an order to pay the company for the used kits and return the unused ones.

As enough test kits from other companies are in stock, the testing will not be affected.

70 percent and more Covid testing in the state is done using rapid antigen test kits. Though instruction was given to increase the RTPCR tests it has not been implemented.