ICMR recommends a low-cost ‘Saline gargle RT-PCR technique’ for covid self-testing
A novel ‘saline gargle RT-PCR approach’ has been developed to make testing easier, more cost-effective, and faster, with results in three hours.
The Indian Council of Medical Research has approved the procedure (ICMR).
Scientists at Nagpur’s National Environmental Engineering Study Institute (Neeri), which is part of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), have made a groundbreaking breakthrough in their continuing Covid-related research by developing the non-invasive RT-PCR approach.
The ICMR has quickly authorised Neeri’s deployment of expert teams to teach employees from multiple laboratories around the country on the unique technology.
The treatment instructs the patient to gargle a saline solution and spit into a simple collecting tube.
This sample in the collecting tube is then transferred to a laboratory for testing, where it is maintained at room temperature in a specific buffer solution.
When the solution is heated, an RNA template is formed, which is then collected and processed for reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
In compared to the costly infrastructure required for RNA extraction, this approach is touted to be inexpensive and noninvasive.
“Because this technology allows for self-sampling, people may also test themselves.
It eliminates the need for queue or congestion at testing centres, saving time and lowering the danger of infection.
At this technology, even trash creation is reduced,” stated Dr Krishna Khairnar, senior scientist, environmental virology cell, Neeri, in a media engagement on the 28th.