India’s top health research body, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has approved the use of saline gargle reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test for COVID-19.
The Research body said that the RT-PCR test would give the result in about three hours.
The test is simple, fast, cost-effective, patient-friendly, comfortable and offers instant results, said a statement issued Saturday by the federal ministry of science and technology.
It is well-suited for rural and tribal areas, given minimal infrastructure requirements.
The Saline Gargle RT-PCR method for testing COVID-19 samples has been developed by India’s National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.
The test does not require a swab to be collected, but instead involves a tube containing saline.
One needs to put the saline in the mouth, gargle for 15 seconds and spit the liquid in the tube and send it for testing.
“Swab collection method requires time. Moreover, since it is an invasive technique, it is a bit uncomfortable for patients.
“Some time is lost also in the transport of the sample to the collection center.
“On the other hand, the Saline Gargle RT-PCR method is instant, comfortable and patient-friendly.
“Sampling is done instantly and results will be generated within three hours,’’ said Krishna Khairnar, senior scientist on environmental virology cell of NEERI.
Collection methods like nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swab collection require technical expertise and are time-consuming, he said.
In the Saline Gargle RT-PCR method, the sample in the collection tube is taken to the laboratory and kept at room temperature in a special buffer solution prepared by NEERI.
An RNA template is produced when this solution is heated, which is further processed for RT-PCR, he explained.
“This particular method of collecting and processing the sample enables us to save on the otherwise costly infrastructural requirement of RNA extraction.
“People can also test themselves since this method allows self-sampling,’’ said the scientist.
India is witnessing a resurgence in COVID-19 cases and the second wave of the pandemic has posed a grave challenge for the country.
Xinhua
