IIT-Delhi COVID19 Test Kit
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IIT-Delhi’s COVID19 Test Kit Launched

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi has developed and launched a low-cost COVID-19 test kit in efforts to overcome the pandemic. Researchers say that the current testing methods available are “probe-based”, while the one developed reduces the testing cost even while the accuracy is not compromised as it uses a “probe-free” method.

A probe that is custom-synthesized to aim for a specific region of the particular viral RNA, the novel coronavirus, in this case, is used in normal RT-PCR technology. Along the specific viral genome, the primer and the probe bind to specific locations. The presence or the absence of the novel coronavirus is indicated by the fluorescent signal when the PCR reactions take place.

Lead researcher, IIT Delhi, Prof Vivekanandan Perumal said, “We are using old technology, a fluorescent dye as the signal in this product.”

The genome sequence of other human coronavirus was compared with the SARS COV-2 genome sequence. Specific regions of the SARS-CoV-2 genome that function as the fingerprint of the virus were identified by the researchers. The unique signature of the novel coronavirus is these short stretches of the genome. Prof Perumal said, “An opportunity to detect COVID-19 specifically

is provided as these unique regions are not present in other human coronaviruses.”

Primers that could target the genome stretches on the spike proteins were chosen by the researchers as the spike protein of novel coronavirus is unique. Prof Perumal says, Using real-time polymerase chain reaction, primer sets that target unique regions of COVID-19 spike protein were designed and tested.”

In the past six months, a number of variants of the virus have emerged and several mutations have taken place. The researchers tested the primer with about 200 fully sequenced novel coronavirus genomes to make sure that their primer is able to capture the most conserved regions of the genome sequence. The cost of the test was naturally reduced drastically as their assay uses only the primer and no probe is required.

Additionally, they made sure that their assay includes the sensitivity of probe-based RT-PCR and is robust. Since the end of January, the research team started working on the kit.  Prof Perumal said, “The in-house assay’s sensitivity is comparable to that of commercially available kits.”

For commercializing the test, the institute gave a non-exclusive open license to companies but with a price rider. Director of IIT Delhi, Dr. V Ramgopal Rao said, “Both in terms of scale and cost, the paradigm of COVID-19 testing in the country should be changed with this kit. The kit is being launched now and the product is approved by DCGI (Drug Controller General of India), and ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research). At an extremely affordable cost, the company Newtech Medical Devices can do two million tests per month using IIT Delhi technology.”

Newtech Medical Devices is launching the kit named ‘corosure’, and it has not announced the price yet, while the institute had kept a price rider of Rs 500 per kit. The kit was launched by Minister of State for HRD Sanjay Dhotre and Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank.

 

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IIT-Delhi’s COVID19 Test Kit Launched

1 COMMENT

  1. Good adventure by IIT Delhi. But the product was to be invented faster. Ok it is better late than never. Try your best.

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