IIT Kharagpur Researchers Develop Novel Technology For COVID-19 Rapid Test

Kharagpur: Researchers at IIT Kharagpur claim to have developed a novel technology for COVID-19 rapid test ultra-portable device at a cost Rs. 400. A customized smartphone application to disseminate test results within an hour, without requiring manual interpretation.

“The entire rapid test can be conducted in an ultra-low-cost portable device with the test results available in a customized smartphone application for dissemination within one hour and requiring manual interpretation. All of this at a cost of Rs 400 per test,” read a press statement.

Also Read: From Sanitisation To Surveillance IIT Kharagpur’s Alumni Develops Devices To Fight COVID-19

The statement further read that the “entire test” can be conducted in an “ultra-low-cost portable enclosure as an alternative to specialized laboratory equipment”.

The same portable unit can be used for a large number of tests, on mere replacement of the paper cartridge after each test. The device has been proven to produce no false result with remarkable accuracy and sensitivity compatible to standard RT-PCR tests, the statement added.

Prof. Suman Chakraborty from the Mechanical Engineering Department, IIT Kharagpur, and Dr Arindam Mondal from the School of BioScience, IIT Kharagpur, came up with the concept of the rapid testing kit.

For the first time, a record number of more than 4.2 lakh COVID tests have been conducted in a single day by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Saturday.

According to an official release of the Union Health Ministry, with 4,20,898 samples tested in the last 24 hours, the tests per million (TPM) have further increased to 11,485 and cumulative testing to 1,58,49,068.

Also Read: Hit By A Pandemic And A Super Cyclone, Here’s How West Bengal Is Tackling The Twin Challenge Of COVID-19 And Amphan

NDTV – Dettol Banega Swasth India campaign is an extension of the five-year-old Banega Swachh India initiative helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. It aims to spread awareness about critical health issues facing the country. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign highlights the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children to prevent maternal and child mortality, fight malnutrition, stunting, wasting, anaemia and disease prevention through vaccines. Importance of programmes like Public Distribution System (PDS), Mid-day Meal Scheme, POSHAN Abhiyan and the role of Aganwadis and ASHA workers are also covered. Only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and become a Swasth or healthy India. The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene.