Tata Medical and Diagnostics today said its OmiSure COVID-19 (RT-PCR) test has been upgraded to detect Omicron (or BA.1), which has quickly become the dominant form of the COVID-19 virus.
In an evaluation conducted by ICMR and Virus Research and Diagnostics Laboratory, Kasturba Hospital for Infectious Diseases, Mumbai, Advanced OmiSure successfully detected the BA.1, BA.1.1, and BA.2 sub-lineages of Omicron, the firm noted. made a statement.
With this, the OmiSure kit is now able to trace all the sub-lineages of Omicron Vipul currently in the country, the company said.
“We are pleased to announce that OmiSure detects all omicron sub-lineages, including the new BA.1, BA.2 and has been accurately confirmed by ICMR. This is a testament to our strength. We have upgraded OmiSure within a week and OmiSure is the most affordable variant testing platform to meet the needs of the market,” said Girish Krishnamurthy, CEO and Managing Director, Tata Medical & Diagnostics.
OmiSure RT-PCR test reduces the load on sequencing; Allows health officials to assess the evolution of variants and take timely action to control the spread.
Additionally, samples negative for Omicron on the OmiSure test may be preferred for sequencing because these samples are more likely to detect other variants and new mutations.
Meanwhile, experts have said that RT-PCR still remains the ‘gold standard’ of COVID-19 testing.
“It is very important to understand that the gold standard for testing and RT-PCR test for early detection is yet to be,” Dr Arjun Dang, CEO, Dang’s Lab told the news agency. ANI,
Highlighting the importance of the RT-PCR test, the expert said that it has two aspects – the timing of the test and the type of RT-PCR test that is being done.
with agency input
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