COVID-19 Test: IIT Delhi Researchers Develop Affordable Test Method

New Delhi: In view of growing COVID-19 cases, a team of researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) here have developed an affordable method of detecting the virus in larger sections.

Researchers at the prestigious institute’s Kusuma School of Biological Sciences developed this ‘probe-free detection assay’.

As per reports, the novel test method is currently being validated by the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune on clinical samples.

Professor Vivekanandan Perumal, lead member of the research team told PTI, “Using comparative sequence analysis, we have identified unique regions in COVID-19. These unique regions are not present in other human coronaviruses providing an opportunity to specifically detect COVID-19.”

“Once the NIV validates the assay, it can be quickly scaled up to meet the increasing need in our country,” he added.

At present, all the private laboratories that have NABL accreditation for real-time PCR SA for RNA virus can conduct the COVID-19 test according to the guidelines issued by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The cost of each test can be up to Rs 4,500, as recommended by the Central Government on Saturday night.