Multiplex RT-PCR Kit DST institute develops new multiplex R | UPSC PIB NEWS
Multiplex RT-PCR Kit
DST institute develops new multiplex RT-PCR kit.
Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST), an Institute of National Importance under the Department of Science and Technology has developed the new multiplex RT-PCR kit.
Significance:
◆ The kit has a higher accuracy of detecting covid-19 across the various mutant strains of the coronavirus.
◆ Even though coronaviruses make far fewer errors than other RNA viruses, the mutations in S, R, and N genes often interfere with RT-PCR assay.
The new kit targets two SARS CoV2 genes: RdRp and ORFb-nsp14, and the human RNAse P gene as the internal control to help detect a range of mutant strains.
Various studies have shown that RdRp and ORF1b-nsp14 genes are more sensitive in detecting Covid-19. Hence, this kit can give more precise results.
The ORFb-nsp14 is one of the least mutated genes in Covid-19 and currently, there are no kits in the market with ORF-nsp14 as the target.
ICMR has validated this kit at the National Institute of Virology, Pune, and found that it has 97.3% sensitivity and 100% specificity in covid-19 detection.
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