Chitra GeneLAMP-N Test Kit

Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Trivandrum, an Institute of National Importance, of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), has developed a diagnostic test kit that can confirm COVID19 in 2 hours at low cost.

The test kit, funded by the DST called Chitra GeneLAMP-N, is highly specific for SARS-CoV-2 N-gene and can detect two regions of the gene.
It will help ensure that the test does not fail even if one region of the viral gene undergoes mutation during its current spread.

The confirmatory diagnostic test detects the N Gene of SARS- COV2 using reverse transcriptase loop-mediated amplification of viral nucleic acid (RT-LAMP).
The tests performed at NIV Alappuzha (authorized by ICMR) show that Chitra GeneLAMP- N has 100% accuracy and match with test results using RT-PCR.
The results can be read from the machine from the change in fluorescence.

Current PCR kits in India enable detection of E gene for screening and RdRp gene for confirmation.
Chitra GeneLAMP-N gene testing will allow confirmation in one test without the need for a screening test and at much lower costs.
The cost of testing with the new device for LAMP testing and the test kit for 2 regions of N gene( including RNA extraction) will be less than Rs 1000/test for the laboratory.
The detection time is 10 minutes, and the sample to result time (from RNA extraction in swab to RT-LAMP detection time) will be less than 2 hours.
A total of 30 samples can be tested in a single batch in a single machine allowing a large number of samples to be tested each day.
The testing facility can be easily set up even in the laboratories of district hospitals with limited facilities and trained laboratory technicians.

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is a single-tube technique for the amplification of DNA and a low-cost alternative to detect certain diseases.
RT-LAMP) combines LAMP with a reverse transcription step to allow the detection of RNA.
RT-LAMP is used in the detection of viruses.
This method is very effective in detecting viruses with an RNA genome (Group II, IV, and V based on the Baltimore Virus Classification system).

Advantages

This method is specifically advantageous because it can all be done quickly in one step.
There is no need for expensive thermocycling equipment that is necessary for other methods like PCR, which makes RT-LAMP very cost effective.