Bengaluru: New testing kit, omisure ‘from Tata Medical and Diagnostics, can detect Omicron variants from Covid-19 with 100% sensitivity as validated by the Indian Medical Research Council (ICMR).
This kit was developed by a team led by Dr.
V Ravi, a former head of neurovirology, Nimhans and currently the Head of R & D, Tata MD.
This kit was developed in just more than a month and can replace genomical sequences because it can detect the omicron variant at the RT-PCR test level.
“At present, it’s the only approved kit for the Omicron website and relevant to Indian preparedness,” said Dr.
Ravi.
The company said the test carried out could be done using all standard real time PCR machines.
The trial time is 85 minutes and the total settlement time of the collection of samples, the RNA extraction to the generation of results is 130 minutes.
First of all the type “this is the first test globally to use a combination of two targets of S-Gen virus to identify with the reliability of Omicron – One based on the S-Gene dropout or the failure of the SGENE target (SGTF) and the other based on the mutation of the amplification s-gene (SGMA ).
All tests are currently available globally using SGTF or SGMA, “said Dr.
Ravi.
Gene failure is an omicron indication.
But if another gene, SGMA, positive, it’s really sure the presence of Omicron.
That’s how I created omiskur.
This kit also has another gene that depends on RNA RNA polymerase (RDRP) that can detect other variants too, “he added.
Until Mark in partnership with ICMR, testing kits were evaluated and found to meet the standards needed for RT-PCR tests to detect the SARS variant -Cov-2 Including Omicron.
“It has two examinations for omicron detection without reducing the ability to detect the other SARS-COV-2 variant,” said Dr.
Ravi.
In 2005, Dr.
Ravi played an important role in the development of Japanese encephalitis antibody testing kits in collaboration With XCyton Diagnostics.
In 1999, Dr.
Ravi had provided an innovation of an antibody testing kit to detect cysticercus, a form of ribbon worm larvae that could cause brain infections.
However, the product is still not on the market.
All required documents have been submitted to the standard control organization Center for approval, said Dr.
Ravi.
The company has begun working to improve production capabilities, chains Sokan and raw material inventory to provide 2 kits lakh per day.