Jamia Hamdard implements a rapid Covid-19 testing kit that shows results in 20 mins

Jamia Hamdard faculty has been working on understanding the spread of this virus and developing new drugs and diagnostics. In partnership with an industry, Jamia Hamdard has designed and tested an antigen-based affordable and rapid Covid-19 diagnostic kit.

This kit is based on a lateral flow assay and a single strip test card. After putting 2 drops of swab specimen, reading needs to be taken by a small portable fluorescent reader.

The kit has a sensitivity of more than 90 %, which is comparatively better than available tests in India. Results can be seen within a few seconds after 20 minutes incubation and more than 300 tests can be performed



within an hour.

The method developed is safe since the swab samples can be collected in a tube, which immediately kills the virus. Also, the antigen tests are cheaper and faster than molecular diagnostic tests.

Vice-Chancellor, Jamia Hamdard Dr. Seyed Ehtesham Hasnain while highlighting the function and working of the kit in an online press conference said the institute has also approached the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) for introducing this test.

India currently uses Standard Q COVID-19 Ag detection assay, commonly known as rapid antigen detection test POC diagnostic assay in combination with RT-PCR test.