CoviSelf, India’s first Covid-19 test kit for home which is priced at Rs 250 has been developed by Mylab Discovery Solutions, Pune. The same will hit the markets within few days.
The company had also given India its first RT-PCR Test kit last year which is now commonly used for Covid-19 tests.
The ICMR has granted approval to this self-use rapid home-test kit for Covid-19 with results available in just 15 minutes.
Mylab managing Director Hasmukh Rawal said that company has currently a production capacity of 70 lakh test kits per week which will be enhanced it to 1 crore test kits by early-June.
Symptomatic persons or immediate contacts of confirmed cases can use this kit and they can test themselves. . The test is done using nasal swab as compared to the deep nasopharyngeal swab to reduce the user’s discomfort. Rawal said that each kit would comprise the requisite testing materials, instructions for use leaflet and a biohazard bag to safely dispose it off after testing.
Rawal further added that this will eliminate the need for sample collection by the healthcare professional. This will directly ease pressures on the overburdened testing labs besides reducing delays in the test results.
Director Sujit Jain said that CoviSelf, MDS hopes to reach Covid-19 testing virtually to the doorsteps of every Indian to help them fight the second pandemic wave and any subsequent waves.