New Delhi, Jul 15 (India Science Wire): According to World Health Organisation (WHO) testing is the
key to combat novel coronavirus. With large population testing in large number is prohibitive in
Indian conditions. Keeping this in mind a low-cost COVID-19 test kit developed by Indian Institute of
Technology (IIT) Delhi has been launched. According to the researchers the current testing methods
available are “probe-based”, while the one developed by them is a “probe-free” method, which
reduces the testing cost even while the accuracy is not compromised.
Normal RT-PCR technology uses custom-synthesised probe that looks for a specific region of the
particular viral RNA, in this case novel coronavirus. The primer and the probe bind to specific
locations along the specific viral genome. When the PCR reactions takes place, the florescent signal
indicate the presence or absence the novel coronavirus.
“Whenever there is an amplification of genetic material in a small tube that is the PCR part. It is
usually detected by a florescent signal that signal usually comes from a florescent probe in almost all
RT-PCR assays. For this product we are using a florescent dye as the signal, it is an old technology we
have used” said Prof Vivekanandan Perumal, lead researcher, IIT Delhi while speaking with India
Science Wire.
They compared the genome sequence of SARS COV-2 and other human coronaviruses. The
researchers identified specific regions of the novel coronavirus genome that function like the
fingerprint of the virus. These short stretches of genome are unique signature of the novel
coronavirus. “These unique regions are not present in other human coronaviruses providing an
opportunity to specifically detect COVID-19,” said Prof Perumal. Spike protein of novel coronavirus is
unique and hence the researchers chose primers that could target the genome stretches on the
spike proteins. “Primer sets, targeting unique regions in the spike protein of COVID-19, were
designed and tested using real-time polymerase chain reaction” says Prof Perumal. With the elapse
of six months several mutations have taken place and a number of variants of the virus have
emerged. Wont they each differ? To ensure that their primer is able to capture the most conserved
regions of the genome sequence, the researchers tested it with about 200 fully sequenced novel
coronavirus genomes. As their assay uses only the primer and no probe is required, naturally the
cost of the test was reduced drastically. They also ensured that their assay is robust and have the
sensitivity of probe-based RT-PCR. “The sensitivity of this in-house assay is comparable to that of
commercially available kits,” said Prof Perumal. The research team started working on the kit from
the end of January.
The institute gave non-exclusive open licence to companies for commercialising the test, but with a
price rider. “This should change the paradigm of COVID-19 testing in the country, both in terms of
scale and cost. The product, approved by ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) and DCGI (Drug
Controller General of India), is being launched now” said Dr V Ramgopal Rao, Director, IIT Delhi. “The
company Newtech Medical Devices, using IIT Delhi technology, can do two million tests per month at
an extremely affordable cost. This is a true example of lab to market,” said Rao.
While the institute had kept a price rider of Rs 500 per kit, the company Newtech Medical Devices,
which is launching the kit named ‘corosure’ has not announced the price yet. Union Human
Resource Development (HRD) Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank and Minister of State for HRD
Sanjay Dhotre launched the kit. (India Science Wire)
By Jyoti Singh
Twitter: @ashajyoti11