The D R D O develops H1N1 virus detection kit .
Posted on: 24/Mar/2010 1:36:39 AM
A kit to detect Swine Flu [HINI Virus] in a span of an hour has been developed by The Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) . The diagnostic kit does not need sophisticated instruments . I would around Rs 1500. .This has been developed mainly for the usage in rural areas where power is available. The technique used is real time loop amplification methodology, which can detect the virus. W Selvamurthy, Chief Controller – Life Sciences and Human Resources, DRDO while explaining this said that the diagnostic has been developed by The DRDO laboratory in Defense Research and Development Establishment (DRDE), situated at Gwalior. The Communicable disease center, WHO has approved this kit after the results out of this were compared with that out of the WHO[CDC} approved kit and the both found tallying. Selvamurthy further said that the DRDO kit detected in some cases missed out by the WHO [CDC} approved Kit. He claims that the strength of the DRDO’s kit is that it is more specific and sensitive. The kit has already received accolades from none other than the Prime Minister. The DRDO Director R Vijayaraghavan said that it was a Powerful Kit as it was cent percent accurate besides it was quick when tested on 900 samples.
More importantly the DRDO kit comes at a much more economical cost while comparing with the WHO kit which need fluorescent detector which cost close to Rs 10000.The DRDO kit uses the RT LAMP technique. Every virus has a DNA structure. The loop of the DNA, specific to the virus, gets amplified. Here, you can visually see the change of color to know whether the A(H1N1) sample is positive or negative. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) did parallel testing of the virus, using both kits. The results tallied, he said. The kit awaites clearance by the ICMR and the Drug Controller-General of India before it reaches the market.
More importantly the DRDO kit comes at a much more economical cost while comparing with the WHO kit which need fluorescent detector which cost close to Rs 10000.The DRDO kit uses the RT LAMP technique. Every virus has a DNA structure. The loop of the DNA, specific to the virus, gets amplified. Here, you can visually see the change of color to know whether the A(H1N1) sample is positive or negative. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) did parallel testing of the virus, using both kits. The results tallied, he said. The kit awaites clearance by the ICMR and the Drug Controller-General of India before it reaches the market.
