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Rajawadi Hospital Reports No ELISA Tests Despite Rapid Dengue Testing
Rajawadi Hospital in Mumbai performed thousands of quick dengue tests.
It did 4,016 rapid tests between January and July 2026.
However, hospital records showed no ELISA tests during those months.
ELISA tests can help confirm whether someone has dengue.
The records do not say how many rapid tests were positive.
The hospital said confirmatory testing is available through an outside laboratory when needed.
Health experts want all hospitals to follow a clear testing process.
They also want officials to explain how confirmed cases are included in dengue tracking.
Rajawadi Hospital conducted 4,016 rapid dengue tests from January through July 2026.
The hospital reported conducting zero ELISA dengue tests during the same period.
RTI data did not specify how many rapid dengue tests were positive.
The hospital’s medical superintendent said ELISA testing is available through an outsourced facility when required.
Experts and the RTI applicant called for clarity on confirmatory testing and disease-surveillance reporting.
- Who
- Rajawadi Hospital, RTI applicant Chetan Kothari, the hospital’s medical superintendent Dr Bharti Rajulwala, and public-health experts.
- What
- RTI data showed 4,016 rapid dengue tests but no reported ELISA tests at the hospital during the period studied.
- Where
- Rajawadi Hospital in Ghatkopar, Mumbai.
- When
- January through July 2026; the report is dated September 18.
- Why
- The figures raised questions about how dengue infections were confirmed and recorded for disease surveillance.
Testing Concerns
Hospital Response
Need for confirmatory testing
Testing Concerns
Chetan Kothari and public-health experts said the absence of reported ELISA tests raises questions about whether rapid-test-positive samples were confirmed and included properly in surveillance data.
Hospital Response
Dr Bharti Rajulwala said ELISA testing is not compulsory and is carried out when required through an outsourced facility.
Interpretation of zero ELISA tests
Testing Concerns
The figures could indicate either that no rapid tests were positive or that confirmatory ELISA testing was not conducted for positive cases, according to Kothari.
Hospital Response
The hospital did not state how many rapid tests were positive, but said confirmatory testing is available through an outside facility.
Uniform testing protocol
Testing Concerns
Experts called for rapid-test-positive dengue and leptospirosis samples to undergo ELISA confirmation at the hospital or a designated laboratory.
Hospital Response
The hospital’s response indicates that testing may be referred to an outsourced facility rather than conducted on-site.
Key facts
- Hospital
- Rajawadi Hospital, Ghatkopar, Mumbai
- Rapid dengue tests
- 4,016 conducted from January through July 2026
- Reported dengue ELISA tests
- Zero during the same seven-month period
- Rapid leptospirosis tests
- 6,714 conducted during the same period
- Dengue test results
- The RTI data did not state how many rapid tests were positive
- Testing arrangement
- The hospital said ELISA testing is available through an outsourced facility
- Guideline timing
- The article states that NS1 ELISA is recommended from the first day of illness and IgM-capture ELISA after the fifth day
Quotes
Dr Bharti Rajulwala
Medical superintendent of Rajawadi Hospital
“The issue is significant for disease surveillance, particularly during the monsoon, when dengue and leptospirosis cases increase. BMC's health department needs to clarify whether rapid-test-positive samples from peripheral hospitals are routinely sent to designated laboratories for confirmation and how these cases are reflected in the city's official surveillance data”
freepressjournal.in
“This could mean either that none of the rapid tests returned positive or that, despite positive cases, confirmatory ELISA tests were not conducted”
freepressjournal.in
Sources
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