Page 25 - Covid 12 July 2021

In this multi-group initiative, Dr SV Diwakar, Dr Meher Prakash, Prof Santosh Ansumali from JNCASR, and collaborators, Prof Arvind Rajendran from the University of Alberta and Mr Arun Kumar (Eiwave Digitech) executed the OxyJani developmental efforts with the help of Mr Ritwik Das (MS student). Technical advice was provided by Prof M Eswaramoorthy, Prof Tapas Maji, and Prof Sridhar Rajaraman. Prof GU Kulkarni, President, JNCASR and Prof Amitabha Bandyophyay of IIT Kanpur mentored the developmental efforts. The financial assistance for the prototype was provided through JNCASR and the Nidhi Prayaas scheme of IIT Kanpur. The zeolite material was obtained through a generous donation from Honeywell UOP, Italy.
This new class of technology called ‘group concentrators’ has the robustness of large PSA plants, portability similar to the personal concentrators, and is affordable too. The device is in the range of 30-40 lpm, which is useful in ICU too.
Contact info:
diwakar@jncasr.ac.in
Website link:
https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1731966
IIT Delhi develops rapid antigen test kit for COVID-19
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi has developed a rapid antigen test kit for COVID-19, in the research leadership of Dr Harpal Singh, Prof, at the Institute’s Centre for Biomedical Engineering.
The salient features of the technology, as certified by the ICMR are as follows:
• This kit is used for in vitro qualitative detection of SARS-CoV-2 antigen.
• The SARS-CoV-2 Ag rapid test is a colloidal gold enhanced double antibody sandwich immunoassay for the qualitative determination of SARS-CoV-2 antigen in human nasal swabs, throat swabs and deep sputum samples. It is suitable for general population screening and diagnosis of COVID-19.
• The invention is directed towards an in vitro diagnostic kit for qualitative detection of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus antigens in nasopharyngeal swab, using the rapid immune chromatographic method.
• The identification is based on the monoclonal antibodies specific for the coronavirus antigen.
• The results obtained are qualitative based and can be inferred visually with naked eye.
• A SARS-CoV-2 positive specimen produces a distinct colour band in the test region, formed by the specific antibody antigen coloured conjugate complex ‘(Au-SARS-CoV- 2-Ab)-(SARS-CoV-2-Ag)-(SARS-CoV-2-Ab)’. The absence of this coloured band in the test region suggests a negative result.
• A coloured band always appears in the control region serving as procedural control regardless whether the specimen contains SARS-CoV-2 or not.
• The test is found to be suitable for early Ct values (Ct values ranging 14-32) with sensitivity – 90 per cent, specificity – 100 per cent and accuracy – 98.99 per cent. It is certified by ICMR. These are one of the best available validation values for any such test kits.
• The technology and its manufacturing are 100 per cent indigenous.
VOL. IV ISSUE 6
VIGYAN PRASAR 21
NATION’S S&T EFFORTS AGAINST COVID-19