Delhi govt orders hospitals to conduct compulsory rapid antigen detection test on 'high-risk individuals'

New Delhi: The Delhi government on Sunday instructed all health care facilities to carry out compulsory rapid antigen detection testing of patients with ILI symptoms, patients admitted with SARI, and other high-risk individuals who visit their facilities. An order issued by the Delhi Health Department directed all medical directors, medical superintendent, and directors of all Delhi government-run hospitals to ensure that “rapid antigen detection testing” of all individuals/patients falling in the categories listed, who visit their hospital, is mandatorily done. All individuals with influenza-like illness (ILI) symptoms, all patients admitted with a severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) are to be mandatorily tested, it said. “All asymptomatic patients admitted or seeking admission of following high - risk group – Patients undergoing Chemotherapy, Immunosuppressed patient including HIV+, Patients with Malignant disease, Transplant Patients, Elderly patients ( > 65 years of age ) with co-morbidities and all asymptomatic patients undergoing aerosol-generating interventions,” the order said.