Mangaluru: The antigen test which detects COVID-19 earlier has been started in Mangaluru from Tuesday, July 14.
The antigen test detects the novel coronavirus in 15 to 20 minutes. Earlier, tests took two days for the detection of the virus.
In the Dakshina Kannada district, 3,500 such kits are available and will be used in emergency cases.
In the antigen test, throat swab samples are applied on a strip. If a red line appears on the strip then the sample has tested positive and if no line appears then the sample has tested negative.
The antigen test will be conducted on foreign arrivals, patients for surgery and deceased suspected of COVID-19.
