Covid-19: RAT, self-kit tests helps in early detection; backbone of testing amid surge, says Balram Bhargava

Commonly used lateral flow tests such as rapid-antigen tests (RAT) and home-antigen tests (HAT) helps in early detection of Covid-19 from the third day to the eighth day – when the viral load is maximum - from start of the infection and have, therefore, become the backbone of testing during the present surge powered by Omicron, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Director General Balram Bhargava said.