Increase number of RT-PCR tests in Bihar: Tejashwi Prasad

PATNA: Leader of opposition in state assembly Tejashwi Prasad Yadav on Thursday hit out at the state government for testing limited samples using RT-PCR method. “At least 50,000 samples should be tested per day using this method,” he said.
Tejashwi also accused the government of hiding data and giving false information. “Health minister Mangal Pandey had said during the monsoon session of the state assembly that 52.9% tests were done using RT-PCR method, 17.9% through TrueNat and 29% through antigen.But on August 11, in a videoconference with PM Narendra Modi, chief minister Nitish Kumar had admitted that less than 10% of samples were being tested through RT-PCR in the state. Either the health minister or the chief minister is lying,” Tejahwi said.
He said though number of tests increased in the state in the past few weeks, majority of samples was being tested through antigen kits.
Pandey, on his part, said the data shared by him in the House was accurate and Tejashwi had presented it in a wrong way. “In the assembly, I had said that around 3.15 lakh tests were done through RT-PCR, 1.10 lakh through TrueNat and around 1.78 through antigen and I still stand by my statement. Tejahswi said that CM was talking about 6,100 tests through RT-PCR. This 6100 is per day data and Tejahswi needs to understand these technicalities,” he added.