IIT Kharagpur researchers develop novel technology for Covid-19 rapid test – education

A staff of researchers from IIT Kharagpur in West Bengal has developed a transportable rapid diagnostic machine that may test samples to detect COVID-19 an infection inside an hour for Rs 400 solely.

The test outcomes – Covid optimistic or Covid destructive – will likely be despatched to the affected person’s cellular via a sensible cellphone app.

The market-prepared machine was unveiled immediately on the institute and IIT has already filed a patent for this machine, which the institute says is the primary of its variety on the earth. Every machine prices round Rs 2000 however it may be scaled down with mass manufacturing.

Usually a RT-PCR machine would price Rs 15 lakhs and a test would price Rs 2000 – 2500.

“Pool testing is feasible. The identical transportable unit can be utilized for numerous checks, on mere alternative of the paper cartridge after every test. At the very least 10 completely different samples may be examined each hour,” mentioned Suman Chakraborty, a professor of mechanical engineering at IIT Kharagpur.

The brand new machine has been designed to be usable at distant areas with extraordinarily poor assets with solar energy and battery. Furthermore, it may be operated by individuals who have virtually no coaching.

“As soon as the samples – Nasopharyngeal and swab – are collected it is extremely use to function the machine. An individual won’t want any coaching and may function simply by studying the directions which have been ready in Hindi and Bengali,” mentioned Arindam Mondal, assistant professor at College of Bio Science in IIT Kharagpur.

The researchers mentioned that the institute has developed a market prepared machine and it might now take the federal government’s intervention and collaboration of personal gamers to scale up the manufacturing for industrial launch.