New Delhi: According to officials, researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi, have developed an RT-PCR-based assay that can specifically detect the omicron variant of COVID-19 within 90 minutes.
Currently, next-generation sequencing-based methods are used worldwide for the identification or screening of oomicrons. These methods require more than three days.
The Kusuma School of Biological Sciences has developed a rapid screening assay. IIT has filed an Indian patent application for the same and is in the process of initiating talks with potential industry partners.
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“The assay is based on the detection of specific mutations that are present in the omicron variant and are currently absent in other circulating forms of SARS-CoV-2. Primer sets targeting these unique mutations in the S gene are used for specific amplification of omicrons. The variant or the other currently circulating variant of SARS-CoV-2 and tested using real-time PCR,” the PTI report quoted a senior IIT Delhi official as saying.
The official said the assays were optimized to separate the wild-type from the Omicron variant in the dynamic range using synthetic DNA fragments. The official said that the existing methods of detection or screening for omicron are next generation based technology which takes more than three days and that the new method will help in detecting omicron variant within 90 minutes.
IIT Delhi had developed a method to detect Covid-19. This method significantly reduced the cost of testing, making it affordable for a large population in the country. The institute received ICMR approval for this real-time PCR-based diagnostic assay and is the first academic institution to achieve the feat. After getting approval from ICMR, the kit was successfully launched in the market.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said that as of December 9, the omicron variant has been detected in 63 countries.
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