Omicron: The institute said in a statement that IIT Delhi researchers have developed an RT-PCR-based assay for the specific detection of the Omicron variant within 90 minutes.

The assay is based on detecting specific mutations present in the Omicron variant and absent in the variants currently circulating for Covid.

Currently, omicrons are being identified or investigated around the world using next-generation sequencing-based methods, which require more than 3 days. "With this RT-PCR-based assay, it will be possible to test for the presence of the Omicron variant in 90 minutes," the statement said.

This can be used as a rapid screening assay to identify and isolate individuals with Omicron variants. IIT Delhi has filed an Indian patent application for itself and is in the process of starting discussions with potential industry partners.

IIT Delhi had previously received approval from ICMR (the first academic institute in India to do so) for an RT-PCR kit to diagnose Covid, which was successfully launched in the market.

So far, India has reported 40 cases of Omicron infection. Today, Maharashtra has reported two more cases of the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2. With those two cases, one from Latur and other from Pune, the tally of patients infected with the newly discovered variant of the coronavirus rose to 20 in the state.

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