Rapid Antigen test developed by IIT Delhi

• An affordable and accurate Rapid Antigen Test kit for Covid has been developed by The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi.
• The kit costs just Rs 50 and are a hundred per cent indigenously developed and manufactured.

Salient features of the SARS-CoV-2 Ag Rapid Test:

• This kit is used for in vitro qualitative detection of SARS-CoV-2 antigen.
• It is a colloidal gold enhanced double antibody sandwich immunoassay for the qualitative determination of SARS-CoV-2 antigen in human nasal swabs, throat swabs and deep sputum samples.
• It is suitable for general population screening and diagnosis of COVID-19.
• It uses the rapid immunochromatographic method.
• The identification is based on the monoclonal antibodies specific for the Coronavirus antigen.
• The results obtained are qualitative based and can be inferred visually with the naked eye.
• A SARS-CoV-2 positive specimen produces a distinct colour band in the test region, formed by the specific antibody-antigen coloured conjugate complex.

• The absence of this coloured band in the test region suggests a negative result.
• A coloured band always appears in the control region serving as procedural control regardless of the specimen contains SARS-CoV-2 or not.
• The test is found to be suitable for early Ct values (number of cycles after which the virus can be detected).
• Sensitivity- 90%, Specificity- 100%, and Accuracy- 98.99%, and it is certified by the ICMR.
• The technology and its manufacturing are 100% indigenous.

Antibody:

• Also known as an immunoglobulin, is a large, Y-shaped protein used by the immune system to identify and neutralize foreign objects such as pathogenic bacteria and viruses.

Antigen:

• The antibody recognizes a unique molecule of the pathogen, called an antigen

Immunoassay:

• An immunoassay is a biochemical test that measures the presence or concentration of a macromolecule or a small molecule in a solution through the use of an antibody or an antigen.