New Delhi: Amid the rapidly rising cases of corona virus in India, Union Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has launched a low-cost covid-19 test kit developed by the Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi on Wednesday. It is said to be the world’s affordable RT-PCR based covid-19 diagnostic kit. The minister gave this information on Twitter.
HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ launched the test kit named “Corosure” which will now be available for use at authorised testing labs.
According to IIT officials, the base price of the RT-PCR assay developed by IIT Delhi is Rs 399. Even after adding the RNA isolation and laboratory charges, the cost per test will go up to Rs 650 and will be considerably cheaper compared to currently available kits in the market. It can deliver results within three hours.
“The Corosure Kit has been developed indigenously and is much cheaper than other kits. The country requires cheap and reliable testing for the country which can help control the pandemic. The kit has received ICMR approval with the highest score and DCGI approved with very high sensitivity and specificity,” he said at the launch.
Referring it to as world’s most affordable Covid-19 diagnostic kit, the HRD Minister said the innovation is a step towards “Make in India”.
