The new system has been put in place in the state to conduct leptospirosis RTPCR test at nine government labs in the state for the early diagnosis ofLeptospirosis disease. The leptospirosis RTPCR test is done to ensure that people suffering fromLeptospirosis disease are diagnosed and treated at the earliest. The uniqueness of this test is that even if it is tested within three to four days of contracting the disease, it can be detected if it isLeptospirosis disease. The SOP will make this service available to all districts (Standard Operating Procedure) has been issued. The SOP contains the criteria to be followed from sample collection to availability of test results.

Samples can be sent for testing from the concerned district to proposed centres as follows : Thiruvananthapuram Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram State Public Health Lab from Thiruvananthapuram district, Thiruvananthapuram State Public Health Lab from Kollam district, Pathanamthitta Regional Public Health Lab from Idukki, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta districts, ICMR-NIV Alappuzha from Alappuzha district, Ernakulam Regional Public Health Lab from Ernakulam district, Regional Public Health Lab from Thrissur District, Thrissur Medical College from Palakkad and Malappuram Districts, Kozhikode Medical College from Kozhikode District, Kozhikode Regional Public Health Lab from Kozhikode District, Wayanad District Public Health Lab from Wayanad District, Kannur From Kasargod District  Health Lab.

At present, IGM ELISA testing for the diagnosis of rat fever is being conducted in all medical colleges, major government hospitals and public health labs. It is only after seven days after the bacteria enters a person's body that this test can detectLeptospirosis disease. At the same time, leptospirosis can be detected if it is detected by RTPCR test within three to four days of being infected. With this, treatment forLeptospirosis disease can be started very quickly.