ICMR Approves Made-In-India Omisure Kit To Detect Omicron Variant: Here's What It Does

A testing kit has been approved by ICMR to detect the Omicron variant of COVID, as per The Hindu. It is called OmiSure.

The kit is manufactured by Tata Medical and Diagnostics. It will be used to confirm the Omicron in patients with its S-Gene Target Failure technique.

¡°The tests have been performed as per the manufacturer¡¯s instructions. Responsibility for batch-to-batch consistency lies with the manufacturer,¡± read the ICMR¡¯s letter of approval on December 30, 2021.

WHO's South-East Asia Region said the focus should now be on enhancing genome sequencing in view of the Omicron variant.

PTI

¡°Diagnostic services are critical for public health. During an outbreak, timely information is needed to guide and tailor public health response to stop/ curtail disease spread. Hence, since the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak, one of the key areas of the WHO¡¯s support has been to strengthen laboratory capacities, with the focus on addressing inequalities in access to COVID-19 diagnostics tools,¡± said Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia Region.

Need to remain vigilant

¡°With COVID-19 cases once again beginning to increase, amid the emergence of a new variant Omicron, we need to remain vigilant. This means enhancing our capacities to quickly test and provide timely results, and conduct genome sequencing for new variants,¡± she added.

¡°Though the focus currently is on enhancing testing and sequencing, the WHO aims to also bring in a more systematic approach for sustained testing and genomic surveillance for rapid detection and characterisation of emerging and re-emerging high threat pathogens,¡± she went on to say.

PTI

Omicron is the latest variant and is proving to be a fast spreader. India has seen cases rise quickly and 2022 is expected to see a further spike.

This kit will help determine quickly if the variant is Omicron and then treatment can be administered accordingly.

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