IIT Delhi researchers develop low-cost test kits for COVID-19

NEW DELHI: Researchers at IIT Delhi have developed indigenous test kits for COVID-19. The test will be low-cost and affordable for the general public.

The central government has imposed a price cap of Rs 4,500 on a COVID-19 test by private laboratories. Currently, the COVID-19 test kit developed by IIT Delhi is undergoing clinical trials at National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune. Once it clears clinical trials, the test kit will be made widely available at cheaper cost.

The test kit, developed by a team of nine at the institute's Kusuma School of Biological Sciences, has been successful in the laboratory stage conducted at the institute.

Manoj Menon, a research team-member has told India Today that the current testing methods available are "probe-based" while the IIT research team has developed a "probe-free detection assay" method, which reduces the cost of testing without compromising on accuracy.

Vivekanandan Perumal, who led the team, told Careers360 that it is a team of nine including four professors and five PhD scholars. He told the Press Trust of India, 'Once the NIV validates the assay, it can be quickly scaled up to meet the increasing need in our country."

However, as another team member asking not to be named told Careers360, f the Pune lab asks for more inputs,there are logistical problems in sending the same due to the lockdown.

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