Lucknow: CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI) has developed an indigenous RT-PCR Diagnostic kit, ‘Om’, to test for the omicron type of coronavirus.
This is Omicron’s first kit made by any government institution and the third indigenously made kit for specific testing. At present, two more such kits developed by private companies are available in the market.
It will be launched in the second week of February after getting the green signal from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
Team of three scientists led by Senior Principal Scientist Atul Goyal And four researchers have made the kit within two months, which will cost around Rs 150.
The kit will give test results in about two hours. The ‘Om’ has been tested and verified by Prof Amita Jain, Head of the Department of Microbiology, King George’s Medical University.
“The biggest advantage of the kit will be that the patient will know whether he is infected with Omicron or Delta. If one is infected with Omicron, one will not panic as this variant is lighter than Delta,” said senior principal scientist Atul Goel.
“As the coronavirus mutates, it becomes difficult to diagnose and treat the different types. Omicron, though modest in traits, is a super-spreader and is engulfing the world like wildfire. If identified on time using this kit, it can be controlled.
Principal Scientist Neeti Kumar This will help in the quick and cost-effective detection of oomicrons as compared to genome sequencing.
Another prominent scientist, Ashish Arora, said: “This technology can be aligned to the detection of other emerging forms of COVID infection and other respiratory infections.”
CDRI Director Tapas Kundu Said, “Our scientists have successfully developed Indikov-OM for the unique detection of omicrons. Our One of the few specialized kits around the world to detect Omicron. Most of the kits do not confirm with Omicron, hence, this kit will be of great help.”
This is Omicron’s first kit made by any government institution and the third indigenously made kit for specific testing. At present, two more such kits developed by private companies are available in the market.
It will be launched in the second week of February after getting the green signal from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
Team of three scientists led by Senior Principal Scientist Atul Goyal And four researchers have made the kit within two months, which will cost around Rs 150.
The kit will give test results in about two hours. The ‘Om’ has been tested and verified by Prof Amita Jain, Head of the Department of Microbiology, King George’s Medical University.
“The biggest advantage of the kit will be that the patient will know whether he is infected with Omicron or Delta. If one is infected with Omicron, one will not panic as this variant is lighter than Delta,” said senior principal scientist Atul Goel.
“As the coronavirus mutates, it becomes difficult to diagnose and treat the different types. Omicron, though modest in traits, is a super-spreader and is engulfing the world like wildfire. If identified on time using this kit, it can be controlled.
Principal Scientist Neeti Kumar This will help in the quick and cost-effective detection of oomicrons as compared to genome sequencing.
Another prominent scientist, Ashish Arora, said: “This technology can be aligned to the detection of other emerging forms of COVID infection and other respiratory infections.”
CDRI Director Tapas Kundu Said, “Our scientists have successfully developed Indikov-OM for the unique detection of omicrons. Our One of the few specialized kits around the world to detect Omicron. Most of the kits do not confirm with Omicron, hence, this kit will be of great help.”
,