Health Ministry issues guidelines for RT-PCR pool testing for migrants

The samples will be aliquoted and therefore pooled samples from 25 specimens shall be tested in the laboratory by RT-PCR method

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) on Thursday issued guidelines for RT-PCR based pooled sampling for migrants and those returning from abroad and kept in quarantine facilities.

"The following guideline is in pursuance of letter of Secretary, MoHFW dated May 12, 2020, on the subject. A decision has been taken to use one time RT-PCR based pooled sampling for surveillance purposes for migrant workers in institutional quarantine facilities, international passengers in institutional quarantine facilities/hotels ear-marked for quarantine and for surveillance purposes in green zones," the document read.

The following guidelines would be followed for the pooling of samples: A cohort