New Delhi: India has the highest number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in the world, second only to the US. At present, more than three lakh cases of corona virus are being reported in India in a day. Although a vaccine would be the key to recovering from the epidemic, the importance of increasing the test cannot be ignored.
In the current standard test, reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is highly reliable and accurate. However, given the increasing need for extensive testing, the fact that RT-PCR requires advanced infrastructure and 24 hours to produce results requires a better alternative. While the Feluda test result comes in just 45 minutes.
The efficient COVID-19 detection test has been developed by a research team at CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology. The test is named Feluda. Its test was approved by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) for commercial launch. It gets its name from the fictional detective in the novels written by Satyajit Ray. The Feluda test provides quick results without compromising accuracy, which is a major breakthrough in the detection of the Covid-19 virus.
According to CSIR, its accuracy is equivalent to RT-PCR test. The plus point is that the result of this test comes in just 45 minutes whereas the RT-PCR test report takes hours.
It is like a pregnancy test done through a paper strip. It consists of a paper strip that changes its color upon the presence of the virus in the sample. The kit consists of two lines, one for control and the other for reporting the result. Compared to RT-PCR, it does not require any heavy equipment.
Which tests are better?
RT-PCR equipment and regents are expensive and require technical proficiency. According to CSIR-IGIB Senior Scientist Dr. Debajyoti Chakraborty, technical proficiency is not required for the Feluda test. This saves time, time and money. The price of Feluda test is around 500 rupees while the price of RT-PCR test is different in different states. However in the Delhi High Court, the ICMR said that the Feluda test did not become famous because of its kit being more expensive.
According to the PTI report, ICMR said that Feluda’s test kit comes to Rs 300 while RT-PCR costs Rs 100. But the Feluda test kit can be easily carried anywhere while labs are required for RT-PCR.
How is feluda test done?
They take swabs through the nose.
RNA.
Single steps perform RT-PCR.
Feluda mix is prepared by incubating the dead FnCas9 protein, guide RNA and amplified viral DNA.
The stick is immersed in the Feluda Mix.
The gold nanoparticle on the strip is affixed to the Feluda complex.
A gold protein named streptavoidin on the test line captures this gold nanoparticle.
The rest of the gold particles fall under the control line.
The color of the test line or control line changes. One line means negative and two lines mean positive result.
The entire test takes one to two minutes.