Antibody Kits for COVID-19

• 27 Mar 2020

Why in News

Recently, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has invited manufacturers to supply 5 lakh antibody kits for diagnosis of COVID-19 infection.

• The antibody test will help in screening suspected patients.

Key Points

• The Antibody Test
  
  • The antibody test for COVID-19 will act as a screening process that will give quick results in a few hours.
  • The antibody test detects the body’s response to the virus. It gives an indication that a person has been exposed to the virus.
  • If the test is positive, the swab is collected and an Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) test is done using the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) kit. Therefore, this is a two-stage process.
  • However, the antibody test does not not definitely indicate that a person is infected with COVID-19 infection. It is only for screening.
• Currently, India is only conducting the conventional RT-PCR test (Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction).
• Antibody Kits vs RT-PCR Test
  
  • RT-PCR test detects the virus genetic material, which is the RNA.
  • The antibody test detects the body’s response to the virus.
  • RT-PCR provides direct evidence whereas antibody kits provide the indirect evidence.
• Need for Antibody Kits
  
  • Shortage of the PCR kits and thus the test is complicated, expensive and time-consuming.
    
    • The antibody test will be where a large number of people are being quarantined and where everybody cannot undergo an RNA test.
  • Results of Testing in South Korea
    
    • The antibody test was done in South Korea, one of the few countries which has been able to flatten the pandemic curve.
    • In South Korea, people with a history of travel and contact are screened using the antibody kit.
    • Then, a large number of suspected patients were being quarantined in the country through contact tracing of just a single patient.

Ribonucleic Acid

• RNA is an important biological macromolecule that is present in all biological cells.
• It is principally involved in the synthesis of proteins, carrying the messenger instructions from Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), which itself contains the genetic instructions required for the development and maintenance of life.
• In some viruses, RNA, rather than DNA, carries genetic information.

Contract Tracing

• Contact tracing is the process of identifying, assessing, and managing people who have been exposed to a disease to prevent transmission.

Indian Council of Medical Research

• Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is the apex body in India for the formulation, coordination and promotion of biomedical research.
• Its mandate is to conduct, coordinate and implement medical research for the benefit of the Society; translating medical innovations into products/processes and introducing them into the public health system.
• It is funded by the Government of India through the Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

Source: IE