University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign began an ambitious initiative in mid-August to repeatedly test for free all students, faculty and staff for novel coronavirus using a rapid saliva-based test that was developed in-house. This model has now been emulated by other American universities. As educational institutions in India are set to open to students under … Continue reading A few U.S. universities rely on rapid tests for safe return to campuses
Diagnostic tool
Rapid antigen tests ideal for coronavirus screening in the community
While rapid antigen tests used repeatedly in the same population can be used for screening, RT-PCR tests are designed for use with symptomatic people and so need not be low-cost but require high analytic sensitivity to return a definitive clinical diagnosis given a single opportunity to test. With novel coronavirus cases accelerating or plateauing across … Continue reading Rapid antigen tests ideal for coronavirus screening in the community
No correlation between Ct values of PCR test and COVID-19 severity
Using the cycle threshold (Ct) values to infer COVID-19 disease severity or infectiousness may be problematic. Cycle threshold values can be suggestive of the amount of virus in an infected person but there is no reliable way of correlating the Ct value with COVID-19 disease severity or infectiousness. But largely, when the Ct value is over 35, a person is unlikely to be infectious. There are many variables that can alter the Ct value of a sample.
IGIB uses mass spectrometer for coronavirus detection
IGIB researchers have been able to detect novel coronavirus using mass spectrometer. The detection is based on the presence of two unique peptides of the virus. Sensitivity is 95% and specificity is 100% and takes less than 30 minutes from sample preparation to testing. Using mass spectrometer, researchers at the Delhi-based Institute of Genomics and … Continue reading IGIB uses mass spectrometer for coronavirus detection
TB diagnostic test developed in India has high diagnostic accuracy, says WHO
Truenat, a molecular test to diagnose pulmonary and extrapulmonary TB and rifampicin-resistant TB, has high diagnostic accuracy, says WHO. Truenat was developed in India. It can be used as an initial and point-of-care tool for diagnosing TB at primary, community health centres. In a Rapid Communication published on January 14, the World Health Organization (WHO) … Continue reading TB diagnostic test developed in India has high diagnostic accuracy, says WHO
Delhi team fabricates a sensor to detect drug-resistant leukaemia
A highly sensitive carbon nanotube-based sensor capable of detecting multidrug-resistant myeloid leukemia cells even when present at very low concentration of 10 cells per ml has been fabricated by Delhi-based researchers. Using chemical vapour deposition technique, the team led by Prof. S.S. Islam from the Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology at the Jamia Millia Islamia … Continue reading Delhi team fabricates a sensor to detect drug-resistant leukaemia
Cheap, filter-based kits developed for TB diagnosis, drug-resistance testing
Three cheap, filter-based kits developed by a multi-institutional team and an industry partner improves the sensitivity of LED fluorescence microscopy by 5%, enable transport of sputum samples at ambient conditions without bio-safe containers and TB drug-resistance testing using molecular methods. To address the TB diagnostic challenges, a multi-institutional team has developed three cost-effective kits that … Continue reading Cheap, filter-based kits developed for TB diagnosis, drug-resistance testing
IIT Hyderabad’s device detects heart attack early
IIT Hyderabad researchers have fabricated a low-cost, ultra-sensitive device that is capable of detecting the cardiac biomarker troponin T protein. Compared with the current limit of detection, the bioelectrode was able to detect troponin T even when it is 10,000 times less in concentration. A low-cost, ultra-sensitive device that is capable of detecting the cardiac biomarker … Continue reading IIT Hyderabad’s device detects heart attack early
IIITD-AIIMS team’s model can predict shock 12 hours in advance
A team led by IIITD-AIIMS researchers has developed a machine-learning algorithm to detect and predict shock using a single photo captured through thermal imaging. It has the ability to predict shock with 69% accuracy 12 hours before it can be clinically recognised by doctors using the current gold standard. The researchers plan to deploy it … Continue reading IIITD-AIIMS team’s model can predict shock 12 hours in advance
AIIMS-led team develops sensitive diagnostic tests for TB
Researchers have developed highly sensitive and specific diagnostic tests for pulmonary TB and pleural TB. The diagnostic tests make use of a DNA aptamer that shows high binding affinity to a TB antigen. Sputum samples were used for diagnosing pulmonary TB while pleural fluid was used for diagnosing pleural TB. A highly sensitive diagnostic test for … Continue reading AIIMS-led team develops sensitive diagnostic tests for TB
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