Corona Test Updates:Portable Device to Detect COVID-19 in an Hour, at Rs 400 by IIT Kharagpur

Corona Test Updates:Portable Device to Detect COVID-19 in an Hour, at Rs 400 by IIT Kharagpur

Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur said on Saturday that its researchers have developed a portable diagnostic device that can detect COVID-19 infection in 60 minutes at an estimated cost of Rs 400.

This complete non-invasive saliva-based test can be conducted in an ultra Low cost portable enclosure as an alternative to specialized laboratory equipment, IIT Kharagpur said.

The technology essentially depicts a disposable simple paper-strip for chemical analysis and visualization of results.  Results from this new technology strictly verified all established laboratory controls against benchmark.

Results obtained from RT-PCR (reverse transcription polymerase chain) is. Reaction) machine, using synthetic viral RNA, said IIT Kharagpur.

Synthetic RNA is exactly the same as viral RNA extracted from infected patients. “The unique portable device developed by researchers at IIT Kharagpur has been validated not only for the diagnosis of COVID-19, but designed to be able to detect any other type of RNA virus by following the same general procedure .

”Arindam Mondal, assistant professor at the IIT Kharagpur School of Bio Science, said in a statement. “Its effect is, therefore, long-lasting, empowered by the ability to detect unexpected viral epidemics in the coming years, which can repeatedly endanger human life.”

The new device is designed to be usable in places with extremely poor resources. In addition, it can be operated by minimally trained personnel, except for the needs of skilled technicians. IIT Kharagpur professor Suman Chakraborty said.

“RT-PCR-based tests suffer from the need for a detailed laboratory-infrastructure and support system, including operational and maintenance costs, to conduct tests.”

“Alternative current approaches to these tests, on the other hand, are either invasive (blood tests) and non-indicative of the initial stage of infection development, or rely on reagents that are highly volatile and not to be applied in resource-limited Settings. “Said Chakraborty.

If the pilot uses the facility, the equipment developed by researchers at IIT Kharagpur will cost around Rs 2,000.

The same portable unit can be used for a large number of tests. , On the mere replacement of the paper cartridge after each test, the institute said, noting that the device proved to be an inaccurate result with remarkable accuracy and sensitivity in line with standard RT. –

CR test production using a large-scale commercial facility With the increase in scale will further reduce. IIT Kharagpur said that it is ready for commercialization of the product and any corporate or start-up can approach the institute for technology licensing and commercial scale of production.