NEERI transfers the technology of Saline Gargle RT-PCR Technique to Ministry of MSME

The Saline Gargle RT-PCR technology is simple, fast, cost-effective, patient-friendly and comfortable; It also provides instant test results and is suitable for rural and tribal areas considering the minimum infrastructure requirements.

CSIR-NEERI said that the innovation developed by the institute has been ‘dedicated to the nation’ to serve the society.

The principal inventor of the technology is Dr Krishna Khairnar from NEERI and a team of research scholars from Environmental Virology at CSIR-NEERI, Nagpur.

This, the government said, will enable the innovation to be commercialized and licensed to all competent parties, including private, government and various rural development schemes and departments.

The licensees are expected to set up manufacturing facilities for commercial production in easily usable compact kit form. In the light of the prevailing pandemic situation and fear of a possible third wave of COVID-19, CSIR-NEERI fast-tracked the information transfer process to potential licensees for its wide spread across the country.

The formal transfer of Standard Operating Procedure and Saline Gargle RT-PCR Technique was done in the presence of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Saturday.

“The Saline Gargle RT-PCR method needs to be implemented across the country, especially in resource-poor areas like rural and tribal areas. This will result in faster and more citizen-friendly testing and strengthen our fight against the pandemic. The MSME unit had approached CSIR-NEERI for commercialization of the Saline Gargle RT-PCR technology developed by CSIR-NEERI,” Gadkari said.