The Rapid Testing kits, that have been imported from China, had begun its role in Tamil Nadu exactly one day after the state had received the shipment as the government hospital in Salem delivered the results of the samples in thirty minutes by minimizing the time consumption of the previous testing mechanisms. 

As we reported earlier, the rapid testing kits are equipped with the capacity of delivering the results in a short time and it also has the capability of testing a large number of people towards ascertaining whether they have contracted to the virus. With the view of enhancing the testing capacities in the state, the Tamil Nadu government had earlier placed orders to procure 4 lakh kits from China, which originated the Coronavirus pandemic late last year.

On Friday, Tamil Nadu has received the first batch of the shipment which delivered 24,000 rapid testing kits and upon arrival, the state government has dispatched the kits to the districts to strengthen the testing. The government has provided 1000 kits to Salem through which the government hospital in the district started testing the people for the first time in the state. According to the reports, the hospital has tested 18 cases on Saturday, who were earlier tested positive for the pandemic.

The results of the samples collected from 18 cases delivered in thirty minutes and all the results returned negative. Along with 24,000 rapid kits received from China, the Tamil Nadu government has also received 12,000 additional kits from the Central government on Saturday that get added to the existing stock. The reports have stated that the state government has asked the Center to provide 50,000 kits. However, it has provided 12,000 so far.

Before switching on to the rapid testing kits, Tamil Nadu had been testing the patients through PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test which would take more than five hours to deliver the results as it would consume more process. The Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation has placed orders in China towards procuring 4,00,000 kits and since 24,000 had been delivered in the first shipment, the remaining kits would be delivered over the next two weeks as the state has been reeling to stem the spread of the Coronavirus.

The Central government has so far received five lakh rapid testing kits from China. As of Friday evening, the state has reported 1,323 cases positive for the virus of which 1025 are active patients, 283 have recovered - 103 recoveries in a single day, and 15 patients have succumbed to the virus.

Also read: Tamil Nadu receives 24,000 rapid testing kits - How it will help the state?