Can Self-Administered Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) Help Rural India? An Evaluation of the CoviSelf Kit as a Response to the 2019–2022 COVID-19 Pandemic
Abstract
:1. Introduction
With CoviSelfTM, Mylab aims to make testing reach the doorstep of every Indian to help them fight the second and any subsequent waves of [sic] pandemic. Now, any citizen can test for Covid-19 themselves, isolate and seek treatment quickly. Early detection can help save thousands of lives and significantly reduce [sic] burden on hospitals. The test can be purchased without a prescription from local pharmacies and online channel partners [italics added by authors of this article]
2. RATs in Clinical Settings in India
The Urgent Need for Self-Administered RATs in Villages
3. Materials and Methods
3.1. Qualitative Framework
3.2. Our Main Data Source
3.3. Contextualising Our Main Data Source
3.4. Our Second and Third Data Sources
3.5. The Limitations of This Study
4. Results
4.1. The CoviSelf Instruction Leaflet
4.1.1. The Structure of the Instruction Leaflet
4.1.2. The Ease of Using the Kit (the Relevant Headings in the Instruction Leaflet Are Steps 1, 2 and 3)
4.1.3. Reading the Test Result and the Clarity of the Leaflet’s Language (the Relevant Headings in the Instruction Leaflet Are Positive Result, Negative Result and Invalid)
4.1.4. How to Respond to the Test Results (the Relevant Headings in the Instruction Leaflet Are Positive Result and Negative Result)
4.1.5. The Test Results and the Objectives of the ICMR (the Relevant Section in the Instruction Leaflet Is Step 4)
ICMR is the regulatory body in India which is responsible for the curb of COVID-19 pandemic along with other important regulatory bodies. Reporting the results helps the body and authorities curb the spread of the disease. It thus becomes our moral obligation to help ICMR by reporting our test result data.
4.2. India’s Digital Divide
4.2.1. The Indian Press
4.2.2. The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) Report of 2021
4.2.3. Civil Society and the Supreme Court of India
4.3. The Conditions of Life in Rural India
4.3.1. Village Poverty and Employment
4.3.2. Village Health and Diagnostic Medical Interventions
4.3.3. Village Religion and Modern Medicine
He had good health but he brought it upon himself by drinking too much. How is our deity responsible for that? [43].
5. Discussion
6. Conclusions
I had to take three tests and the result is still inconclusive, what is the problem. The 1st test …I couldn’t squiz [sic] the liquid onto sample level and I broke the well bottom and the lines so I exited the App. But then I tried the second time and did everything right and found that results were inconclusive as I scanned later than 20 min… I tried third time and exactly waited for 15mins and it’s the same problem.
I followed all instructions yet I didn’t receive my results. Just said Invalid Casette, low server problem. Second, I understand that there might be server issue, then what’s the point of keeping another 15 min time interval when the whole kit gets invalid after 20 min. Just keep the test result appearance that’s it. Really disappointed. The manual rtpcrs are far safe and better I suppose.
Author Contributions
Funding
Informed Consent Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Variables | All India | Urban | Rural |
---|---|---|---|
Population in millions | 1433 mil | 485 mil | 948 mil |
Active internet users (AIUs) | 622 | 323 | 299 |
% growth in AIUs during last 12 months | 4 | 13 | |
% of AIUs in urban/rural India | 67 | 31 | |
Top 9 cities’ share of urban AIUs as a % | 33 | ||
Share of AIUs in villages with populations over 1000 | 85 | ||
Highest usage state in India: Maharashtra with highest % of AIUs relative to state population | 61 | ||
Lowest usage state in India: Bihar with lowest % of AIUs relative to state population | 24 | ||
Ratio of male: female AIUs | 57:43 | 58:42 | |
% AIUs using mobiles | 100 | 100 | |
% AIUs using PCs | 22 | 13 | |
% AIUs using other, e.g., tablets, smart TVs etc. | 7 | 5 | |
Average duration of AIUs on internet in mins | 115 | 99 | |
% of AIUs using internet for entertainment | 96 | 96 | |
% of AIUs using internet for Communication | 92 | 87 | |
% of AIUs using internet for social media | 84 | 79 | |
% of AIUs using internet for net commerce | 59 | 30 | |
% of AIUs using internet for online Shopping | 43 | 13 | |
% AIUs texting & emailing | 87 | 79 | |
% of AIUs voice & video messaging | 54 | 57 |
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Vicziany, M.; Hardikar, J. Can Self-Administered Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) Help Rural India? An Evaluation of the CoviSelf Kit as a Response to the 2019–2022 COVID-19 Pandemic. Diagnostics 2022, 12, 644. https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12030644
Vicziany M, Hardikar J. Can Self-Administered Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) Help Rural India? An Evaluation of the CoviSelf Kit as a Response to the 2019–2022 COVID-19 Pandemic. Diagnostics. 2022; 12(3):644. https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12030644
Chicago/Turabian StyleVicziany, Marika, and Jaideep Hardikar. 2022. "Can Self-Administered Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) Help Rural India? An Evaluation of the CoviSelf Kit as a Response to the 2019–2022 COVID-19 Pandemic" Diagnostics 12, no. 3: 644. https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12030644