Pune based Mylab becomes first Indian company to get Covid-19 test kits validated

Pune based molecular diagnostic company Mylab becomes the first Indian company to have received the validation for its Covid-19 diagnostic test kits also known as the Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests by the Drug Controller of India, after the National Institute of Virology validated its test. Germany's Altona Diagnostics is other company to get the approval for same.

Currently, it takes four hours for test results to come out in lab-based testing while with Mylab's turn-around time is reduced to 2.5 hours, said Dr Gautam Wankhde, Medical Director Mylab. Around 1000 samples from large labs and 200 from smaller labs can be studied with the company's kits. Mylabs is looking to price its kits around Rs 1200 (US$ 17.61).

So far, the test has been limited for patients with travel history and those who are "suspected cases" of Covid-19 by Indian Council of Medical Research because of which the government has come under criticism for not doing enough tests. India ranks lowest in terms of testing done per million population. It is testing 15 people in 1 million.

Although, the government's research body has been looking to increase its testing criteria. It allowed few private labs to start providing tests under a prescription from qualified doctor. But these labs can't start testing unless they get the reagents or testing kits required to start these tests.

Mylab has promised that it can manufacture up to 1 lakh tests in a week which can be further scaled up if needed.
 

Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.