Omisure Kit | 06 Jan 2022

Why in News

Recently, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has approved a made-in-India testing kit, named Omisure, for detecting the Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.

• The kit currently in use to detect Omicron in the country has been developed by the US-based scientific instrumentation company Thermo Fisher.
• Further, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has proposed some measures to strengthen laboratory capacities, with the focus on addressing inequalities in access to Covid-19 diagnostics tools.

Key Points

• About Omisure:
  
  • This RT-PCR kit is manufactured by Tata Medical and Diagnostics.
    
    • It uses S-Gene Target Failure (SGTF) strategy.
  • Currently, Omicron patients are detected only after genome sequencing.
    
    • However, the Omisure test kit helps to eliminate this step and detects the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV2 in the nasopharyngeal/ oropharyngeal specimens during the RT-PCR tests.
  • The Omicron variant underwent several mutations in the S-gene, the SGTF strategy checks and indicates it in patients who are detected Covid positive.
  • 'S' Gene, ORF, 'N' gene, Rdrp, 'E' gene are viral genes that are targeted to detect Covid-19 virus.
• WHO Propositions:
  
  • Genomics Consortium: The WHO is proposing to set up a SARS-CoV-2 genomics consortium in Southeast Asia.
    
    • The consortium will help enhance genomic sequencing and surveillance to develop a robust regional system for detecting and monitoring the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 viral threats for epidemics and pandemics.
  • Genome Sequencing: WHO had called for increased genome sequencing.
    
    • This will also help improve the timely use of genomic data for public health decision-making and to strengthen preparedness and response to future outbreaks/ pandemics.
  • Addressing Key Barriers: Need to check key barriers like limited trained workforce and other resources for sustained long-term testing and sequencing capacities.

Source: TH