States asked not to use Chinese coronavirus test kits for two days

India had nearly 19,000 coronavirus cases and 603 deaths from the disease, according to health ministry data on Tuesday.

States must not use rapid test kits procured from China for two days after Rajasthan complained about poor coronavirus detection, said a senior government scientist on Tuesday. 

“In two days we will issue an advisory to states. These findings cannot be ignored but we have to remember it is a first generation test and so it may be a bit crude,” said Raman R Gangakhedkar, head scientist at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), at a press conference in Delhi.

ICMR teams will validate the kits and based on their reports the government will ask companies for replacements.