Coronavirus | Dry swab RT-PCR COVID-19 test gets ICMR nod

CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) lastly acquired the permission of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to commercially use the ‘game changing technology’ of dry swab RNA-extraction free testing methodology for the COVID-19 virus on Friday. Developed by the in home analysis staff, it should assist public well being authorities to scale up the testing at a fraction of the present value of typical RT-PCR exams and in addition give leads to a double fast time.

The ICMR has issued an advisory allowing “the use of CSIR-CCMB dry swab method, considering its lesser cost and quick turn-around time after evaluating and finding an overall concordance of 96.9%”. The CCMB has sought the ICMR nod after discovering the trial runs profitable right here in affiliation with the TS well being authorities in July and first reported in these columns.

Coronavirus | CCMB finds cheaper, simpler RT-PCR methodology to test COVID-19 samples

In the standard testing methodology, nasopharygeal — nostril or oropharyngeal — throat swab samples are collected by pattern assortment centres from the suspected coronavirus sufferers. These are transported to testing centres, generally even lots of of kilometres away.

The swab samples are typically positioned in a liquid referred to as Viral Transport Medium (VTM) and to keep away from leakage, the samples are packed closely that provides on to pattern processing occasions at each the pattern assortment and testing centres. Yet, there may very well be leakages from samples, which render these batches untestable and unsafe in dealing with, defined CCMB Director Rakesh Mishra.

CCMB researchers have discovered that the ‘VTM’ could be completely prevented and dry swab method additionally doesn’t require RNA extraction course of, and could be straight used for RT-PCR testing with sensitivity and specificity much like the present gold normal. This can be utilized in settings the place automated RNA extraction isn’t out there.

“RNA extraction, even with automation, takes four hours for roughly 500 samples. VTM and RNA extraction both add a significant burden on money and time required for mass testing for coronavirus. We believe the technique’s merit holds for all kinds of settings and has the potential of bringing the costs and time of testing by 40-50%. COVID-19 screening can also be enhanced several fold with immediate effect while, at the same time, making the whole process safer,” mentioned the Director.

CSIR Director-General Shekhar C. Mande mentioned the dry-swab direct RT-PCR methodology is straightforward to implement with no requirement of recent kits and present manpower can carry out this with no further coaching and therefore may make a big contribution to ramping up the testing capability within the nation shortly.

The dry swab test methodology has additionally been independently corroborated by a number of premier institutes and hospitals akin to Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD), IISER-Berhapmur, CSIR-NEERI, GMCH-Nagpur, Genepath primarily based in Pune, IGGMSH and MAFSU, Nagpur and in addition Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad. It has been printed in peer reviewed journal by CSIR-CCMB and by different scientific teams in a number of prestigious scientific journals internationally, a launch said.