Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur has developed a new COVID-19 diagnostic method, using a low-cost portable unit.
- The method has been approved by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) after testing with patient samples showed an accuracy level slightly lower than the gold standard RT-PCR method.
- The COVIRAP machine cost less than ₹5,000 to make and the test kits would each cost about ₹500.
- Once the viral RNA was extracted, the testing process takes about one hour.
(Source: The Hindu)
