New Delhi: Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi have developed an RT-PCR based kit to detect the new covid variant Omicron within 90 minutes.
Currently, worldwide, Omicron screening is done using next-generation sequencing-based methods, which requires over three days.
An official statement said, “Currently, the deadly new covid variant Omicron is identified worldwide by the next-generation sequencing method, which takes more than three days. After the approval of the new RT-PCR kit it will take only 90 minutes to detect the virus. This method will reduce the cost of testing and will make it efficient for the large population of the country.”
IIT Delhi has filed a patent for the rapid test kit developed by its Kusum School of Biological Sciences and is in the process of initiating talks with potential industrial partners.
A senior official of IIT Delhi said that this testing method detects specific mutations. He noted that the Omicron is detected using artificial DNA fragments in the test.
Reportedly, after getting approval from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the new testing kit will be launched in the Indian markets.
