A low-cost, portable, and battery-operated device to test coronavirus is being developed by The Jawaharlal Nehru University’s (JNU), as per the university statements.
This device can complete testing in a mere 50 minutes in comparison to the 120-180 minutes taken through the other conventional methods.
As stated by the university a chip-based spatial reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) has been designed where PCR has been integrated with an in-built detection system containing LED and diode detector.
“The detection of the infection of coronavirus is being majorly done by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCT) by using real-time PCR machine, a very accurate lab test for detection, tracking, and study the coronavirus. But this technology is expensive, requires high-end laboratory-based equipment, and is time-consuming,” the vice-chancellor of JNU tweeted.
The advantage of this approach will be the less time taken, machines’ small size, portability, cost-effective, and simple training of personnel handling the device.
This technology will cost Rs 60,000 to Rs 1 lakh whereas conventional real-time PCR which comes at Rs 10-15 lakh said JNU in a statement.
A team from the School of Biotechnology at JNU led by Jaydeep Bhattacharya is developing the device. A tweet by the VC claimed that The prototype of the device can be expected within four months.
This project has been allotted to the university by the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), a PSU under the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India.
