The rapid Covid-19 detection kit will be less costly and further provide adequate testing support in rural areas

Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi with support from the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) has initiated research to develop an aptamer-based diagnostic kit for detection of SARS-Co-V2 infection. The research is aimed at fighting the challenge of setting up rapid diagnostic facilities in remote areas that do not have adequate infrastructure, which the Covid-19 pandemic has thrown up.

The study aims to ensure the detection of coronavirus infection while the kit will also differentiate the various types of coronavirus infection (SARS Co-V1, MERS) including COVID 19 infection, as per a Ministry of Science and Technology release.

The aptamer-based technology can detect several infections in a precise and efficient manner. Further, it is a less costly method of detection of COVID 19 infection.

The Covid-19 detection kit will be developed based on a combination of conserved and non-conserved domains present in the SARS-CoV2 virus, and the SARS-CoV2 virus & MERS virus respectively.

The kit will be a rapid diagnostic kit for detection based on the change in color, the science ministry revealed.

The research is carried out by Assistant Professor at Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra Dr. Abhimanyu Dev, and Associate Professor of the same Institute Dr. Venkatesan Jayaprakash.

The development of the diagnostic kit will be done at Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra lab while testing of kit will be conducted at the Institute of Life Sciences (ILS), Bhubaneswar as per the release.