Chitra GeneLAMP N
The scientists at SCTIMST have developed the Chitra GeneLAMP N, a test kit for performing confirmatory tests of COVID-19 in 2 hours.
About Chitra GeneLAMP N
The Chitra GeneLAMP N is a confirmatory test kit for COVID-19 that was developed by Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology and funded by DST. While current PCR-based tests either help in screening by detecting the E gene or confirming using the RdRp gene, this test kit is able to detect 2 regions of the gene to allow confirmation in one go. The test kit was developed by scientists in 3 weeks.
Advantages
- It gives results in 2 hours in which the actual detection time is only 10 minutes.
- In a single batch, it can test 30 samples.
- It has 100% accuracy.
- It is a low cost solution- at less than 1,000 INR per test.
RT-LAMP
It is one of the world’s first test kits for COVID-19 to make use of the RT-LAMP or reverse transcription loop mediated amplification technique. It is a technique for conversion (into DNA) and amplification of the RNA used in diagnosis of bacteria and virus. Unlike the PCR technique, it is performed in a single step at a constant temperature.
