The Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) has already transferred the new technology to two companies, which are expected to begin the silicosis rapid test kits by early next year
The new test identifies levels of serum CC16 in a drop of blood. (Credit: Belova59 from Pixabay)
Indian researchers have developed a rapid test kit to detect silicosis, a long-term lung disease caused by exposure to crystalline silica dust.
The test kit was developed through a collaboration between the Mumbai team of the National Institute of Virology (NIV) and the National Institute of Occupational Health.
Said to the world’s first rapid test for silicosis, the kit detects serum CC16 levels in blood.
The new silicosis test is similar to a pregnancy test kit and identifies levels of serum CC16 in a drop of blood.
A serum CC16 level between 6 and 9 ng/ml detected by the screening test indicates early silicosis.
Dr Shyam Sundar Nandi, one of the scientists who have developed the test, was quoted by The Times of India as saying: “Based on the concentration of the serum, we can diagnose the patient with severe, mild disease or is likely to develop it in the near future.”
The research work has been accepted in the journal, Nature Scientific Reports.
Dr Upendra Lambe, Sonali Sawant, Dr Jagadish Deshpande from ICMR-National Institute of Virology, Mumbai unit and, Dr Kamlesh Sarkar are the other team members who have developed the test.
The new technology has already been transferred to two companies that include Axiva Sichem Biotech, Delhi, and Acrannolife Genomics, Chennai.
The companies are expected to begin manufacturing the test kits by early 2022.
Nandi of the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) in Mumbai was by The Indian Express as saying: “Silicosis is an incurable, irreversible and progressive lung disease caused by continuous or intermittent exposure to silica dust while working.
“Silicosis is caused by inhalation of respirable crystalline silica dust which, over time, leads to lung inflammation and fibrosis. India has an estimated 12.5 million silicosis affected people.”