CSIR-IGIB Scientists has developed paper strip quik COVID-19 testing kit “FELUDA” with 90% accuracy that will give results in 1 hr. It’s an indigenously developed that uses cutting-edge that uses Crisper gene-editing technology. The cost of the test would be less than One thousand it’s first of its kind. The name of the testing kit “Feluda” is named after a fictional detective created by the late Satyajit Ray. The test uses CRISPER gene-editing technology to identify and target the genetic material of Sars-CoV2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The test has been developed by Senior Scientists Dr. Debojyoti Chakraborty and Dr. Souvik Maiti at the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research – Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (CSIR-IGIB).
“Feluda stands for FnCas9 Editor Linked Uniform Detection Assay. It detects active Covid-19 infection by using a CRISPR CAS 9 based based readout on a paper strip. RNA to detection takes place in less than 1hour.” says Dr. Souvik Maiti, Senior Scientist, CSIR-IGIB .This is a simple test require real time PCR machine “It doesn’t require real time PCR machine, will be cheap and can be performed at point of care settings where a simple PCR machine is present.” Says Dr. Debojyoti Chakraborty, Senior Scientist , CSIR-IGIB This is the only COVI-19 testing kit that has been developed suing CRISPER -based technology in India.
Women Issue
The artificial heart (LVAD) was implanted in patients facing end-stage heart failure. The device, which is supposedly considered a “bridge to a transplant”, proved to be “destination therapy” Patients facing heart failure and certain death in the absence of an immediate heart transplant are living
normal lives. These patients are those who don’t have a pulse, heartbeat or blood pressure, yet they are
able to do everything that a healthy person can, as their blood flow has been fully restored. The device
left ventricular assist devices(LVAD) has helped in the longevity of life for those who were facing imminent
heart failure.
According to Dr. Kewal Krishan, Director, Heart Transplant & Ventricular Assist Devices, Dept. of
Cardiovascular Surgery, Max “LVAD is a device that adds 13 to 15 years to the life of people facing
imminent heart failure. It boosts functions of the heart and is used either as a temporary measure till a
heart transplant can be conducted, or as a destination therapy where the patient lives with the device
permanently as they are unfit for a heart transplant. LVAD enables patients to live a normal life even
after end-stage heart failure.”
“We have conducted over a dozen LVAD implants till now at Max Hospital, Saket, ranging from a seven
year-old girl to an 81-year-old female patient. Four of those patients are living a normal life even five
years after implant– they are the first and only LVAD recipients in India to have successfully survived
beyond five years. Others are also doing well and hopefully will complete many more years on device.
LVAD is gradually emerging as a good alternative to a heart transplant.” He Adds