ICMR Approves CSIR Lab Developed Fast, Patient-Friendly 'Saline Gargle RT-PCR' Test For COVID-19 Detection

The scientists at Nagpur-based National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) have developed a 'Saline Gargle RT-PCR Method' for testing COVID-19 samples.

The innovative testing technique has also received the approval of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the Ministry of Science and Technology said on Friday (28 May).

According to the ministry, the Saline Gargle method offers a bunch of attractive benefits, all rolled into one. It is simple, fast, cost-effective, patient-friendly and comfortable and also offers instant results and is well-suited for rural and tribal areas, given minimal infrastructure requirements.

Dr. Krishna Khairnar, Senior Scientist, Environmental Virology Cell at NEERI said, “Swab collection method requires time. Moreover, since it is an invasive technique, it is a bit uncomfortable for patients. Some time is lost also in the transport of the sample to the collection centre. On the other hand, the Saline Gargle RT-PCR method is instant, comfortable and patient-friendly. Sampling is done instantly and results will be generated within 3 hours.”

The method is non-invasive and so simple that the patient herself can collect the sample, explains Dr Khairnar.

“Collection methods like nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swab collection require technical expertise; they are also time-consuming. In contrast, the Saline Gargle RT-PCR method uses a simple collection tube filled with saline solution," he said.

"The patient gargles the solution and rinses it inside the tube. This sample in the collection tube is taken to the laboratory where it is kept at room temperature, in a special buffer solution prepared by NEERI. An RNA template is produced when this solution is heated, which is further processed for Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR). This particular method of collecting and processing the sample enables us to save on the otherwise costly infrastructural requirement of RNA extraction. People can also test themselves, since this method allows self-sampling," Dr Khairnar added.

The method is environment-friendly as well, since waste generation is minimized.

NEERI has further been asked to train other testing labs, to help scale up its adoption across the country.

Nagpur Municipal Corporation has given permission to go ahead with the method, following which testing has begun at NEERI, as per approved testing protocol, the ministry said.