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RT-PCR kit for Omicron: No more genome sequencing needed for detecting Omicron | Cost and other FAQs answered

S-gene RT-PCR can now be used to detect all other kinds of Covid-19 variants including Omicron. Here’s how effective it is from the regular RT-PCR. Know the cost and other important questions.

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By Kritika Bobal

With the rising number of new coronavirus variant Omicron, the authorities have created a special S-gene RT-PCR kit for detecting the highly contagious variant. RT-PCR which was earlier used to detect all the other variants will now be able to detect the Omicron variant too.

Chandrasekhar Nair, director and chief technical officer at Molbio Diagnostics has announced that a specific RT-PCR kit for identifying the Omicron variant has been designed and is ready to be pushed out whenever the need arises.

Earlier, for detecting the omicron variant, genome sequencing was done which took at least four to five days. The omicron variant may now be identified in less than 24 hours thanks to the S-gene RT-PCR screening.

Who developed the S-gene RT-PCR test kit?

A testing kit for detecting all kinds of Covid-19 variants including Omicron has been developed by the Pune-based GenePath Diagnostics that has been approved by the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR). In a single test, the kit will detect presumptive Delta and Omicron mutations.

What is the cost of the S-gene RT-PCR test kit?

The ordinary RT-PCR kit costs Rs 70, whereas the S-gene testing kit costs Rs 210 per kit.

How effective is the S-gene RT-PCR test kit?

Dr Nickhil Jakatdar, CEO of GenePath Diagnostics, said that the development represents a step towards improving human life by developing and implementing high quality, fast, accessible, and cost-effective screening and diagnostic solutions for infectious diseases, cancers, and genetic problems.

Further adding Jakatdar said that this made-in-India kit can detect all kinds of variants around the world including the dominant Omicron and Delta variants.

Read Also: If there is UK-like outbreak in India, then there will be 14 lakh cases every day, says VK Paul

How S-gene RT-PCR is different from regular RT-PCR?

The recently launched kit has the capacity to distinguish all existing Delta lineages as well as all Omicron lineages, including BA.1, BA.2, which are also known as Omicron-like and stealth variations, and the recently proposed BA.3 lineage, said Dr Phadke. He further added that the kit will be able to reliably differentiate between all Covid-19 variants and can detect the mutation with high sensitivity.

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India registers 313 new Covid cases, active cases reach 2,041, 3 deaths recorded in last 24 hours

The currently available data suggests that the JN.1 variant is neither leading to an exponential rise in the new cases nor a rise in the hospitalization and mortality.

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India saw a single-day rise of 313 new Covid cases, while the active caseload has declined to 2,041, the health ministry said on Saturday.  Three deaths: two from Karnataka and one from Maharashtra were reported in the last 24 hours.

According to the ministry website, the number of active cases in the country stood at 2,331 on Friday. The number of cases of Covid had dropped to double digits till December 5, but it began to start increasing after the emergence of a new variant and cold weather conditions.

 According to reports after December 5, the highest single day rise of 841new cases was reported on December 31, 2023, which is 0.2% of the peak cases reported in May 2021. Of the total active cases, a large majority of these (around 92%) are recovering under home isolation.

The currently available data suggests that the JN.1 variant is neither leading to an exponential rise in the new cases nor a rise in the hospitalization and mortality. India has witnessed three waves of Covid in the past with its peak incidence of daily new cases and deaths being reported during the delta wave in April June 2021.

 At its peak, 414,188 new cases and 3915 deaths were reported on May 7, 2021. Since the pandemic started in early 2020, there have have been 4.5 crore people who have got infected and this has resulted in the death of 5.3 lakh persons in a total time span of four years.

According to the ministry data, the total number of persons who have recuperated from the disease are 4.4 crore with total recovery rate recorded is 98.81%. A total number of 220.67 crore doses of Covid vaccines have been administered in India so far.  

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India registers 605 new COVID-19 cases and 4 deaths in last 24 hours

The number of people who have recovered from the disease has gone up to 4,44,81,341, an increase of 648 since Sunday morning. In Kerala a 70 year-old male with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and 81year-old male with T2DM and HTN, and in Karnataka, a 48 year old male with CA and TB died, while one person in Tripura succumbed to COVID.

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India recorded 605 fresh COVID-19 cases and four deaths in the last 24 hours. The active cases have increased to 4002, while India’s overall COVID case tally stands at over 4.5 crore (4,50,18,792). The death toll was recorded at 5,33,396 with four new deaths – two from Kerala and one each in Karnataka and Tripura – reported in the last 24 hours, the data updated at 8am stated.

The number of people who have recovered from the disease has gone up to 4,44,81,341, an increase of 648 since Sunday morning. In Kerala a 70 year-old male with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and 81year-old male with T2DM and HTN, and in Karnataka, a 48 year old male with CA and TB died, while one person in Tripura succumbed to COVID.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) reported that 11,838 doses of the vaccine had been administered in the country till January 7. The data is a compilation of the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (National Centre for Disease Control), media bulletins and websites of various states at 8am on January 4.

As the winter season sets in, health experts are highlighting a sudden surge in viral infections, influenza, and COVID-19 cases. Dr Nikhil Modi, a senior pulmonologist at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, pointed out that the decrease in temperature leads to increase in moisture in the air, low wind speed and also causes an increase in pollution levels. This contributes highly to various infections.

Due to the decrease in temperature the fog combines with the pollution in the air which further leads to the formation of smog. This condition of the atmosphere can cause different types of infections and difficulty in breathing. Both the state and the central government are keeping a close watch on the new Omicron Subvariant JN.1. J.N.1 is a Variant of Interest (VOI) which is under intense scientific scrutiny.   

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India records 774 new Covid-19 cases, 2 deaths in 24 hours

The number of daily cases was in double digits till December 5 but it started to rise again amid cold weather conditions and after the emergence of new Covid-19 variant, JN.1.

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India on Saturday had a single-day rise of 774 Covid cases while the number of active cases stood at 4,187, the Union health ministry said. As many as two deaths – one each from Tamil Nadu and Gujarat were reported in a span of 24 hours. Of the 4,187 active cases, the majority (over 92%) are recovering under home isolation.

The number of daily cases was in double digits till December 5 but it started to rise again amid cold weather conditions and after the emergence of new Covid-19 variant, JN.1. The central government has asked the state government and union territories to maintain a constant vigil amid an upward trend in the number of Covid-cases and the detection of the JN.1 sub variant in the country.

According to reports after December 5, the highest single-day rise of 841 cases was reported on December 31, 2023, which was 0.2% of the peak cases reported in May 2021. A health official said that the JN.1 variant is neither leading to an exponential rise in new cases nor a surge in hospitalisation and mortality in the country.

The Karnataka government has made the Covid test mandatory for those with Influenza like illness (ILI) or Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI). Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said more than 7000 tests are being done every day and the COVID positivity rate is 3.82%. The positivity rate in the state has not come down yet.

He said those with symptoms are being monitored and tested. Those who are in isolation at home have been told to take extra care. He added it is expected that the trend of decreasing Covid cases may start next week in Karnataka. India has witnessed three waves of Covid-19 in the past with the peak incidence of daily cases and deaths being reported during the Delta wave during April-June 2021. At its peak 4,14,188 cases and 3915 deaths were reported on May 7, 2021.

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