*Authorities playing with peoples lives amid pandemic?*

*Authorities playing with peoples lives amid pandemic?* (Letter to  editor)
Govt preferring unreliable Rapid Antigen Tests over credible RT PCR in Kashmir*
Srinagar: August 7 (PTK) Health experts are cautioning government’s non- serious approach over conduction of COVID-19 testing in Kashmir, stating that the methods adopted by the government like antigen testing is putting peoples lives seriously in danger.
As per the reports, RAT( Rapid Antigen Test ) is now preferred over RT PCR and that the rate by which RT PCR tests are conducted have drastically gone down. “The fact s that Rapid Antigen Test are much less reliable in nature and cannot be trusted for its accuracy. The government however in making the Rapid Antigen Testing surge while as throwing more reliable and accurate testing like RT PCR in the back burner. It is putting peoples lives grievously at risk,” says a Srinagar based Medico.
It was informed further that as per the latest guidelines of Indian Council of Medical Research (IMCR) those who test negative for COVID-19 by rapid antigen test should be definitely tested sequentially by RT-PCR to rule out infection, whereas a positive test should be considered as a true positive and does not need reconfirmation by RT-PCR test.
According to several medicos, when a person is tested by Rapid Antigen Test and his report comes negative, he is allowed to go to his home and meet his family or friends. “As Rapid Antigen Testing is not reliable and has less accuracy, if the person tests positive through RT-PCR than he has actually infected many more by being earlier declared negative through Rapid Antigen Testing,” says another senior doctor.
It was being alleged that the government isn’t taking the gravity of the situation seriously and is endangering peoples lives through such underhand means.(PTK)