IIT-Hyderabad develops cheaper COVID-19 testing kit ‘COVIHOME’
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This check kit can produce outcomes inside half-hour for each symptomatic and asymptomatic sufferers, a launch stated.
An Artificial Intelligence-powered COVID-19 check that may be carried out at an inexpensive price at residence has been developed by researchers on the Indian Institute of Technology-Hyderabad (IITH) led by Prof. Shiv Govind Singh of the division {of electrical} engineering, it was introduced on Thursday.
This check kit can produce outcomes inside half-hour for each symptomatic and asymptomatic sufferers and the foremost good thing about this testing kit is that it doesn’t require RT-PCR (Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction), an professional human useful resource, and a BSL-2 lab facility for the extraction of RNA, so it has potential for one to take the check at residence with out professional supervision, stated an official press launch.
CSIR-Centre for Cellular & Molecular Biology (CCMB) has carried out the validation of the fast RNA digital diagnostic gadget for detection of SARS-Cov-2 virus within the swab samples independently with the in-house samples and hospital samples as suggested by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). These samples had been confirmed for his or her positivity or negativity by the RT-PCR technique. The validation report confirmed the kit’s effectivity 94.2%, sensitivity 91.3%, and specificity 98.2%.
Each check prices round ₹400 now. However, mass manufacturing of the testing kit will assist to scale back the fee to round ₹300 per check after taking the required ICMR approvals.
“IITH has come up with many unique and novel socio-technological initiatives during this pandemic. Prof. Govind Singh’s “COVIHOME” is one such admirable milestone. I’m assured it’s going to play a major position within the secure & quick analysis of the COVID-19 and minimise its unfold”, stated IITH Director Prof. B. S. Murty.
COVIHOME testing kit analysis workforce additionally consisted of Dr. Suryasnata Tripathy, Supraja Patta, Swati Mohanty, and different college students led by Prof. Singh. Initial medical trial and testing of the gadget was carried out at ESIC Medical College and Hospital in Hyderabad. “Dean ESIC, Prof. M. Srinivas and his team of Dr. Imaran, Dr. Swati, and Dr. Rajeev have played a big role in the successful development of this novel kit”, stated Prof. Singh.
“A major objective of the research team for the development of the ‘COVIHOME’ test kit was to break the transmission chain through affordable testing. We have already filed a patent for the device and are now looking for industry partners for Transfer of Technology (ToT) for mass production”, he added, within the launch.
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