Genes2Me launches PCR-based kit for monkeypox, gives results within 50 mins

New Delhi: Diagnostic company in India Genes2Me on Tuesday announced the development of a PCR-based kit for monkeypox virus that gives results in real-time.

According to the company, its POX-Q Multiplexed RT-PCR kit produces highly accurate results in less than 50 minutes.

"This unprecedented time underscores the importance of diagnostic assays in health security preparedness and readiness. Understanding the value of time, we have launched this RT PCR for Monkeypox which will give the result in less than 50 minutes with the highest accuracy," said Neeraj Gupta, CEO and Founder of Genes2Me, in a statement.

Gupta said that currently, the company has the "capacity to manufacture 5 million test kits in a week, and it can be scaled up to 2 million tests in a day with the added demand".

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared monkeypox a public health emergency of international concern after more than 16,000 cases from 75 countries were reported, which includes four from India.

The WHO recommended that specimen type for laboratory confirmation of monkeypox is skin lesion material, including swabs of lesion surface and/or exudate, roofs from more than one lesion, or lesion crusts.

Hence, for detection of monkeypox, both dry swabs and swabs placed in VTM or viral transport medium -- a solution used to preserve virus specimens after collection -- can be used.

The kit is available in both the standard version for any commonly available RT-PCR instruments as well as point-of-care format on Genes2Me Rapi-Q HT Rapid RT-PCR device.

The company said that the point-of-care solution can be used for screening at multiple sites including hospitals, airports, diagnostic labs, and health camps, among others.

With inputs from IANS