Testing for the novel coronavirus has become even more important due to two reasons – the fast-spreading of virus and people being asymptomatic acting as carriers. The DGCI has given a green signal for the commercial launch of the FEDULA, Tata CRISPR COVID-19 test, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, CSIR, said on Saturday.
Developed in India, FELUDA works on the CRISPR technology, for the detection of the coronavirus. Read on to find out how it works.
How FELUDA works?
The FELUDA test for COVID-19 can offer the accuracy level of the RT-PCR tests while decreasing the turnaround time. So far, the RT-PCR test has been considered as the most reliable test for the detection of infections. However, FELUDA is comparatively cheaper and easier to use.
FELUDA embeds the CRISPR technology, which is basically a genome-editing tech which is used to detect diseases. The CSIR-IGIB has developed it.
The FELUDA test by Tata has got the regularity approval from the Drug Controller General of India. This test meets the high-quality standards with 96% sensitivity and 98% specificity for identifying the COVID-19 virus.
This test has become the first diagnostic test in the world to deploy a specially adapted Cas9 protein to detect the virus successfully.
In addition to that, the attached technology can be used to detect various other pathogens in the future. Girish Krishnamurthy, CEO, TATA Medical and Diagnostics Ltd said, “Tata CRISPR test will give a boost to the country’s efforts in fighting the global pandemic.’
