DTMT Network

To ease the fight against COVID-19, Nagpur-based National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), has transferred the know-how of indigenously developed saline gargle RT-PCR technique to detect COVID, to the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) for commercialising it.

This technique developed in May 2021 is instant, comfortable, and patient-friendly. Sampling is done instantly and results will be generated within three hours.

CSIR-NEERI stated transferring the method to MSME would enable the innovation to be commercialised and licensed to all capable parties, including private, government, and various rural development schemes and departments.

It added that the licensees are expected to set up manufacturing facilities for commercial production in the form of easily usable compact kits.

The ceremonial transfer of the Standard Operating Procedure and Know-How of the Saline Gargle RT-PCR technique was done in the presence of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.

Gadkari said that the method needs implementation across the nation, especially in resource-poor regions like rural and tribal areas.

“This would result in faster and more citizen-friendly testing and will strengthen our fight against the pandemic. The MSME unit had approached CSIR-NEERI for commercializing the Saline Gargle RT-PCR technology developed by CSIR-NEERI,” he added.