BHU Researchers Design New COVID-19 Test Kits
BHU researchers have developed COVID-19 test kits. The kits ensure low cost, accuracy and rapid detection which might come handy amid the tough times the entire nation is facing. A patent has been filed for the commercial production of the kits.
The researchers of the Department of Molecular and Human Genetics of BHU (Banaras Hindu University) informed on Tuesday, i.e. 31st March 2020, that they have developed a COVID-19 test kit that can give precise results in 5-6 hours. The BHU Researchers have patented the test kits for its commercial production, but as per the reports, there is a long way ahead before the test kit gets approved for commercial production.
According to the associate professor of the department, Dr. Geeta Rai, the BHU researchers have implemented the RTPCR method. This has been used as a world-wide screening method for COVID-19. She further added that the researchers have developed primers that target the particular sequence which is only present in COVID-19.
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The BHU researcher claimed that the sequence of COVID-19 was not found in any other viruses like SARS. The researcher was hopeful that when the testing would be done, the test kits would help in detecting only COVID-19 sequence and it would reduce the chances of getting a false positive. The patent was filed by BHU at the Indian Patent Office and the conceptualisation took place in the early March. The objective behind the research conducted by BHU was that the small diagnostic labs could buy the device easily. The researchers are hopeful that the cost of the COVID-19 test would also be comparatively very low.
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Presently, the COVID-19 test kit developed by the BHU researchers is at the research stage. It would come into use only once it is approved by the ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research). The Union Health Ministry informed that the death tally on account of COVID-19 has risen to 53 and the total active coronavirus cases as of 3rd April 2020, Tuesday are 1,860. Of these, 155 people have already been cured and discharged from the hospital. The entire nation is facing a complete lockdown amid the outbreak of the coronavirus. In such a scenario, if the COVID-19 kit developed by BHU researchers gets approved for commercial production, it would guarantee low cost, accuracy and rapid detection which might help the nation in bringing forth its A-game against fighting with the virus.