How to design to quickly identify omicron variants

Ahmedabad: In a large breakthrough, scientists of the Biotechnology Research Center (GBRC) developed a polymerase chain reaction technique (PCR) for a faster detection of the omicron variant of Coronavirus.
This technique involves CDNA (complementary DNA – copy of RNA Messenger through reverse transcripts) prepared from RNA isolated from virus samples.
This is followed by conventional PCRs that provide fast results compared to the sequencing of intact viruses using the next generation sequencing (NGS) and also provide cost-effective techniques to examine samples in remote labs.
“Positive samples with this test can be confirmed by sorting if needed.
Compared to the test kit developed by the ICMR-RMRC based on the RT-PCR method, the GBRC kit is conventional and does not require a RT-PCR engine to test,” said an official senior.
“The test kit involves wild type control to check the reaction settings and to distinguish between wild types and covid omicron types.
This technique can be used where the results guarantee the urgency and are in a remote location where top-class facilities are not available.” This test can be done with Using conventional PCR engines that might be available at the nearest medical college or private pathology laboratory, officials said.
Conventional methods generally take up to 4-5 days to detect the existence of omicron from the sample.
Gujarat, so far, has four cases of confirmed variants including three of Jamnagar and one of the letters.
All patients are stable, said state health department officials.