In a bid to make the covid testing a bit quick, the Indian Council of Medical Research has approved a do-it-yourself version of the RT-PCR test that can give the result in just three hours. Named as Saline Gargle RT-PCR, the method has been developed by the Nagpur-based National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI).
This method does not require the swab samples collected from the nose and throat of patients due to which the process of a skilled healthcare worker to collect the swab sample gets eliminated and the sample can be self-collected.
How is Saline Gargle RT-PCR test conducted?
Senior scientist Dr Krishna Khairnar of the NEERI in a video shared by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting explains how to self-conduct the Saline RT-PCR test.
Dr Khairnar said, "The Saline RT-PCR kit comes with a tube containing saline. One needs to put this solution into the mouth and gargle for 15 seconds. Then one has to spit the liquid back into the tube and send this for testing."
The Saline Gargle RT-PCR method is instant, comfortable and patient-friendly, Dr Khairnar said, adding that the sampling is done instantly and results are out within three hours.
"When the sample arrives at lab, it is mixed with a buffer and kept at room temperature for 30 minutes. Then the liquid is heated up at 98 degree for six minutes to extract RNA for the RT-PCR test," he said.
As per Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Saline Gargle RT-PCR method is especially suited for remote rural and tribal areas.
