IIT-Hyderabad develops First AI-powered COVID-19 home testing kit | Fusion - WeRIndia

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH) developed a novel self-testing home kit, COVIHOME. This unique test kit is artificial intelligence-powered.

A team of researchers, Dr Suryasnata Tripathy, Supraja Patta, Swati Mohanty, and their students, developed this kit. Shiv Govind Singh, Department of Electrical Engineering, led the research.

The testing kit is ideal for both in-house samples as well as hospital samples. The device was tested at ESIC Medical College and Hospital in Hyderabad for its performance. Its Dean, Prof Srinivas M and his team played a crucial role in developing the test kit.

The kit will be available soon in the market after getting the nod from ICMR.  COVIHOME testing kit is useful for both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. It can deliver results within 30 minutes.

The main advantage of this testing kit is that it does not need expert human resources and lab well-established lab facilities.

This test is a rapid RNA electronic diagnostic device. CSIR-CCMB validated its performance.

As per the report, the kit is 94.2 per cent efficient with 98.2 per cent specificity and 91.3 per cent sensitivity.

The main objective of developing the test kit was to help people get testing at affordable prices and break the virus chain by improving tests. The researchers filed a patent for their innovation. They are also looking for industry partners for its commercial production so that it can reach many people.  If anyone comes forward for mass production, the researchers are ready to transfer the technology.

As of now, the exact price per test has not yet been fixed. However, the price per test may be around ₹400. If the mass production starts, then it may further bring down the price to ₹300.

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