THD HelpDesk, Pune: GenePath Diagnostics based in Pune has designed a quantitative RT-PCR test which will facilitate studies in COVID-19. It will help drug or vaccine makers to test the efficiency of the product. This test will also reduce the time of the release of vaccine or therapeutic drug in the market for COVID-19.
Nikhil Jakatdar, CEO of GenePath Diagnostics said some unidentified drug makers are presently using the kit in India. He also added that this is a first of its kind quantitative test kit in India with concern to COVID-19, and soon could be utilized for other infectious diseases as well.
GenePath Diagnostics has also approached vaccine makers for a relevant solution.
The difference between RT-PCR tests and the GenePath kit is that the former uses the threshold cycle (Ct) value to take an estimate of the viral load in the patient to measure the severity of the infection. The same swab would likely show Ct values making it difficult to get an accurate result. On the other hand, GenePath kit measures the Ct viral load through its interpretation algorithm and calibration protocols. The conclusion has come after comparing thousands of clinical samples.
GenePath has recently received approvals from the Central Drug Standards Control Organisation (CDSCO) for its COVID-19 RT-PCR test kit. It is the first organization in India to have both COVID-19 test lab and its RT-PCR test kit approved by the Indian Council of Medical Research.
Jakatdar said,
“Being a clinical lab, we knew the practical considerations and constraints that had to be kept in mind while creating the test kit.”
GenePath has also collaborated with another US-based lab for its Covid-19 test kit. However, Jakatdar claimed that it would focus on India at present to make it efficient and of use to help the Indian population as soon as possible.
