Since the entire public health machinery is focused to test, track and treat COVID-19 patients, it is imperative to explore the existing antigen-based assays as point-of-care tests for early detection of SARS-CoV-2.

The Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) is inviting applications or Expression of Interest (EoI) for validation of rapid antigen (Ag) detection tests for COVID-19 from all manufacturers who have developed such test.

So far, ICMR has validated and approved only one rapid antigen detection assay from SD Biosensor.

ICMR has identified the following sites for validation of the rapid point-of-care antigen detection tests for COVID-19:

All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi

SMS Medical College, Jaipur

King George Medical University, Lucknow

Kasturba Hospital for Infectious Diseases, Mumbai

Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh

Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research, Puducherry

National Institute of Virology, Kerala Unit, Alappuzha