Scientists develop new technology platform to detect SARS-CoV-2 by fluorescence readout

What is the News?

A team of Indian scientists have developed a new technology platform for fluorometric detection of pathogens such as viruses by measurement of fluorescent light emitted.

Background

Viruses are a major global threat to human health, and the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 continues to inflict catastrophic effects on all aspects of our lives. 

This unprecedented transmission rate of RNA virus has necessitated rapid and accurate diagnosis to facilitate contact tracing (prevent spreading) and to provide timely treatment.

RT-q-PCR (Quantitative reverse transcription PCR) test has been the gold standard for accurate detection of SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19). However, this test is not very reliable and takes a longer time to give results.

What have Indian Scientists developed now?

Indian Scientists have developed Noncanonical nucleic acid-based G-quadruplex (GQ) topology targeted-reliable conformational polymorphism (GQ-RCP) platform to diagnose Covid-19 clinical samples.

This platform detects viruses by measuring the fluorescent light that is emitted.

This platform can also be used to detect other DNA/RNA pathogens such as HIV, influenza, HCV, Zika, Ebola, bacteria, and other mutating pathogens.

Source: This post is based on the article “Scientists develop new technology platform to detect SARS-CoV-2 by fluorescence readout” published in PIB on 9th Feb 2022.