Syngene International, a contract research and manufacturing firm has developed an Elisa test kit for detecting antibodies that may fight Covid-19 symptoms. Elisa (The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test) measures immunoglobulin levels and is useful in testing asymptomatic and convalescent patients. The tests can also be used for large scale community screening.
Syngene chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw told, “We are ready with a prototype and we will get it evaluated by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) at the earliest. The company is developing a number of serological tests (that measure antibodies or proteins present in blood) based on Covid-19 specific antigen and antibodies. Questions have been raised about serological tests over their specificity but when used in conjunction with RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) tests, they can indicate early, active and convalescent phase of the infection.”
She further added that, “Elisa kits are known to be more reliable than point-of-care strip tests. Elisa tests can measure IgG antibodies both quantitatively and qualitatively, whereas point-of-care tests are only accurate in terms of qualitative measures.”
