Thiruvananthapuram: The rapid tests to diagnose coronavirus positive cases will start in Kerala on Saturday. The first test will be conducted in IMG where about 100 people are quarantined and in Pothencode in Thiruvananthapuram where community transmission of the disease is suspected.

A Pothencode native had died the other day while he was under treatment for COVID-19. It was not confirmed from where he was infected with the virus. Also he had taken part in many public events. Considering this, the rapid test is performed in Pothencode.

The medical experts will go to Pothencode on Saturday. The health department is trying to trace those who went to Pothencode Juma Masjid where the deceased had attended prayer. The relatives of the deceased also will be subjected to rapid testing. The test results will be checked at public lab and Thiruvananthapuram medical college, said minister Kadakampally Surendran.

Rapid test is a method to know virus transmission through primary screening. This helps to diagnose the disease without using any other equipment. When high quality testing kits are used, test results of many people can be obtained very quickly. Also the expense for the testing is very low.

MP Shashi Tharoor had initiated to bring 1000 rapid test kits to Thiruvananthapuram the other day. The kits help to diagnose virus infection within 2 hours 30 minutes. 2000 more kits will be brought in the coming days. 3000 kits are purchased using Rs 57 lakh from the MP fund of Shashi Tharoor. The kits were prepared by ICMR certified company 'My Lab' in Pune.