India's new paper Covid-19 test could be a 'game changer'

[nitpicker]

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-54338864

India's new paper Covid-19 test could be a ‘game changer’

Published12 hours ago

A team of scientists in India has developed an inexpensive paper-based test for coronavirus that could give fast results similar to a pregnancy test. The BBC's Soutik Biswas and Krutika Pathi unpack how it works.

The test, named after a famous Indian fictional detective, is based on a gene-editing technology called Crispr. Scientists estimate that the kit - called Feluda - would return results in under an hour and cost 500 rupees (about $6.75; £5.25).
(snip)

Researchers at the Delhi-based CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), where Feluda was developed, as well as private labs, tried out the test on samples from about 2,000 patients, including ones who had already tested positive for the coronavirus.

They found that the new test had 96% sensitivity and 98% specificity. The accuracy of a test is based on these two proportions. A test that's highly sensitive will detect almost everyone who has the disease; and a test that has high-specificity will correctly rule out almost everyone who doesn't have the disease.

The first ensures not too many false negative results; and the second not too many false positives. India's drug regulator has cleared the test for commercial use.
(snip)

He believes the Feluda test could potentially replace the antigen tests because it could be comparatively cheaper - and more accurate.

"The new test has the reliability of the PCR test, is quicker and can be done in smaller laboratories which don't have sophisticated machines," Dr Anurag Agarwal, director of IGIB, told the BBC.

Sample collection for the Feluda test will be similar to the PCR test - a nasal swab inserted a few inches into the nose to check for coronavirus in the back of the nasal passage. India still doesn't allow Covid-19 tests from saliva samples.
(snip)

[Le Roi de Pot]

1. Well , at least they aren't claiming a cure /Vaccine like Russia is.

[Amishman]

2. I won't remotely believe it works until it's tested elsewhere

Especially regarding ability to differentiate between Covid-19 and common cold coronavirus strains.