<p>Senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday appealed to the Maharashtra government to do away with rapid antigen tests to detect Covid-19 cases and rely only on RT-PCR tests, which he said are known for maximum accuracy.</p>.<p>In a letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, the Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly also said the previous experience of rapid antigen tests in Mumbai was not good.</p>.<p>He stated 65 percent results of the antigen tests conducted in two Mumbai-based laboratories between July 18 and 21 had come out negative, while the same suspects tested positive for the infection in their RT-PCR tests.</p>.<p>Tamil Nadu also had a similar experience with rapid antigen tests, the former chief minister said.</p>.<p>"Instead of antigen tests, the state government should prioritise RT-PCR tests for better accuracy," Fadnavis said.</p>.<p>In its letter to the state government, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has highlighted that Maharashtra has high capacity for conducting RT-PCR tests, he said.</p>.<p>The state-run laboratories can test 35,900 samples a day, while the capacity of private such facilities is to conduct 20,040 tests a day, he said.</p>.<p>"While the testing capacity in Mumbai alone is 12,210, the current average of tests done in the state capital so far is 5,800," he said.</p>.<p>When state-run facilities have a high testing capacity, why were citizens were forced to go to private hospitals and spend money for tests? Fadnavis asked.</p>.<p>He also demanded that the state government release daily figures of antigen tests and PT-PCR separately for better transparency.</p>.<p>The number of Covid-19 cases in Maharashtra on Wednesday crossed the 4 lakh-mark and reached 4,00,651, as per the state Health department.</p>.<p>A total of 20,16,234 people have been tested so far in the state, it said. </p>
<p>Senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday appealed to the Maharashtra government to do away with rapid antigen tests to detect Covid-19 cases and rely only on RT-PCR tests, which he said are known for maximum accuracy.</p>.<p>In a letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, the Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly also said the previous experience of rapid antigen tests in Mumbai was not good.</p>.<p>He stated 65 percent results of the antigen tests conducted in two Mumbai-based laboratories between July 18 and 21 had come out negative, while the same suspects tested positive for the infection in their RT-PCR tests.</p>.<p>Tamil Nadu also had a similar experience with rapid antigen tests, the former chief minister said.</p>.<p>"Instead of antigen tests, the state government should prioritise RT-PCR tests for better accuracy," Fadnavis said.</p>.<p>In its letter to the state government, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has highlighted that Maharashtra has high capacity for conducting RT-PCR tests, he said.</p>.<p>The state-run laboratories can test 35,900 samples a day, while the capacity of private such facilities is to conduct 20,040 tests a day, he said.</p>.<p>"While the testing capacity in Mumbai alone is 12,210, the current average of tests done in the state capital so far is 5,800," he said.</p>.<p>When state-run facilities have a high testing capacity, why were citizens were forced to go to private hospitals and spend money for tests? Fadnavis asked.</p>.<p>He also demanded that the state government release daily figures of antigen tests and PT-PCR separately for better transparency.</p>.<p>The number of Covid-19 cases in Maharashtra on Wednesday crossed the 4 lakh-mark and reached 4,00,651, as per the state Health department.</p>.<p>A total of 20,16,234 people have been tested so far in the state, it said. </p>