Kerala makes a breakthrough with a new diagnostic test kit

A research institute in Kerala has created a low-cost diagnostic test kit to detect COVID-19 virus labelled as ‘Chitra Gene LAMP-N’. The innovative test kit is economical and quick to perform, which could be a major breakthrough.

The COVID-19 test kit has been developed by Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The test kit is designed to identify the N-Gene of the coronavirus using reverse transe loop-mediated amplification of viral nucleic acid or RT-LAMP technique.

How is this discovery unique from other test kits?

• In an unprecedented way, the novel COVID-19 test kit plays a key role in confirming diagnostic tests for N-gene of COVID-19 virus using the RT-LAMP technique.

• A group testing method at once can cut down the time taken for deducing Atleast 30 samples can be tested in one batch in a single machine.

• Currently the COVID-19 testing device is priced between Rs 15-45 lakh, while the new kit is available at an affordable cost of Rs 2.5 lakh.
• Besides this, many tests all over India are priced at Rs 2500 per test, while the newly developed kit will only cost Rs 1000 per test.

Did the test kit get approval and ready to use?

The National Institute of Virology, Alappuzha had found that the new test unit has given precise results with  exact outcome. The test unit presently anticipates endorsement from the ICMR.

Once ICMR gives its approval, the new test pack could assume a significant job in venturing up India’s battle against the COVID-19 infection, by empowering less expensive, quicker and exact detection of positive cases.