THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Health Minister, Veena George, announced that the RTPCR test to detect leptospirosis quickly has begun in ten government labs across eight districts of the state. The samples collected from the other six districts will also be tested here.

The Lepto RTPCR testing can detect the bacteria in the body after four just four days. Currently, every medical college, main government hospitals, and public health labs has IgM ELISA test to identify leptospirosis. However, it can be detected only after seven days of the infection. This leads to a delay in giving treatment.

Usually, patients are brought to the hospital with symptoms after three days. A lepto test can clarify if it is Leptospirosis within hours. The health department has issued guidelines about the testing.

The districts and labs that provide Lepto RTPCR testing

Thiruvananthapuram – Medical College, State Public Health Lab

Kollam – Thiruvananthapuram State Public Health Lab

Idukki, Kottayam, Pathanamthitta – Pathanamthitta Regional Public Health Lab

Alappuzha – Virology Department

Ernakulam – Regional Public Health Lab

Thrissur – Medical College

Palakkad, Malappuram – Kozhikode Regional Public Health Lab

Kozhikode – Medical College, Regional Public Health Lab

Wayanad – District Public Health Lab

Kannur, Kasaragod – Kannur Regional Public Health Lab