Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences develops faster, cheaper test for COVID-19

The Department of Molecular Medicine and Biotechnology at the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS) here has developed a faster and much cheaper test for COVID-19 infection. The technology is the first rapid RNA (Ribonucleic acid)-based test that can detect COVID-19 infection within a lab time of 30 minutes and will cost only around Rs 500.

Professor Swasti Tiwari, who led the research team and is the head of the department said on Sunday , that they had already filed for patent and approval of ICMR and the technology would be transferred for commercial use on getting the same. Prof Tiwari said, "The test is a single-tube lab test which takes less than 30 minutes of laboratory time and has high specificity and sensitivity. The test does not require sophisticated instrumentation or any expertise for result interpretation."

She further explained that the data related to test development and optimisation has recently been communicated for publication in a scientific journal. The process of testing human samples using this technology is underway. She said that after the approval of ICMR, mass testing of coronavirus would be possible at a cheaper rate.

This point-of-care test will have a direct impact on mass screening, and will especially benefit the people in screening/holding areas of various service centres such as hospitals and airports.