HRD Ministry Launches 'world's Most Affordable' Probe-free COVID-19 Test Kit

The Human Resource Development Ministry on Wednesday launched the worlds most affordable COVID-19 test kit. Taking to Twitter to share the same, Union HRD Minister, Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank said that it was the "world's most affordable probe free RT-PCR based COVID-19 diagnostic kit".

The test has been developed by the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi and is called Corosure.

Pokhriyal termed this as a step towards Prime Minister Modi's "vision of a self-reliant India".

As per a PIB press note, the Corosure kit has been developed indigenously and has received ICMR approval with the highest score and has also become DCGI approved with a very high sensitivity and specificity.

Speaking at the launch, Pokhriyal lauded the work done by the IIT Delhi researchers and those involved in the development and manufacture of the kit. The probe-free diagnostic kit has been manufactured by the Delhi NCR-based Newtech Medical Devices.

It will now be available for use by the authorised testing labs and will significantly bring down the cost of COVID-19 RT-PCR testing. The base price of the RT-PCR assay is Rs 399, he said. Even after adding the RNA isolation and laboratory charges, the cost per test will be considerably cheaper compared to currently available kits in the market, the Minister noted.

IIT Delhi has incidentally given license to 10 companies to manufacture COVID-19 diagnostic kits using the technology developed by its researchers.

Launching the world's most affordable probe free RT-PCR based #COVID19 diagnostic kit, along with MoS for HRD Shri @SanjayDhotreMP ji. #AatmaNirbharBharat https://t.co/7u9dqR79W9

— Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank (@DrRPNishank) July 15, 2020