Research in Pandemic: IIT Kharagpur developed novel technology for Covid-19 rapid test

On Jul 25, 2020

Kharagpur: A team of researcher from IIT Kharagpur in West Bengal has developed a novel technology for Covid-19 rapid test. A new diagnostic device can detect COVID-19 infection within an hour for Rs 400 only, said researcher statement. The test results – Covid positive or Covid negative – will be sent to the patient’s mobile through a smart phone app.

IIT Kharagpur researchers claim to have developed a novel technology for #COVID19 rapid test. Ultra-portable device to cost Rs 400.
Customized smartphone application to disseminate test results within 1 hour, without requiring manual interpretation. pic.twitter.com/rkZDvNpXTh
— ANI (@ANI) July 25, 2020

The market-ready machine was unveiled today at the institute and IIT has already filed a patent for this machine, which the institute says is the first of its kind in the world. Each machine costs around Rs 2000 but it can be scaled down with mass production. Normally a RT-PCR machine would cost Rs 15 lakhs and a test would cost Rs 2000 – 2500.

“Pool testing is possible. The same portable unit can be used for a large number of tests, on mere replacement of the paper cartridge after each test. At least 10 different samples can be tested every hour,” said Suman Chakraborty, a professor of mechanical engineering at IIT Kharagpur.

The new device has been designed to be usable at remote locations with extremely poor resources with solar power and battery. Moreover, it can be operated by people who have almost no training. Once the samples – Nasopharyngeal and swab – are collected it is very use to operate the machine. A person will not need any training and can operate just by reading the instructions that have been prepared in Hindi and Bengali.

The researchers said that the institute has developed a market ready device and it would now take the government’s intervention and collaboration of private players to scale up the production for commercial launch.