DRDO develops equipment for swine flu diagnosis

The DRDO has developed a rapid and cost-effective 'Swine Flu virus H1N1 specific isothermal gene amplification assay' for reliable and early clinical diagnosis of the disease, the Lok Sabha was informed today.

Defence Minister A K Antony, in a written reply to MPs' queries, said the equipment was a single-tube method and cost-effective as compared to WHO-approved Centre for Disease Control recommended real-time Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction test system.

"The assay is based on principle of isothermal gene amplification protocol. No expensive real-time PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) equipment is required and as a result it can be monitored by naked eye. The DRDO developed method gives result in an hour as compared to the three to four hours required for WHO-approved CDC recommended kit," Antony said.

The DRDO-developed kit was validated at the National Centre for Disease Control, Delhi; Post Graduate Institute, Chandigarh; and National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore.

"The process for transfer of technology for commercialisation has also been initiated," he added.