Monkeypox PCR kit launched
In another first of its kind, a facility set up at India's first integrated medical devices manufacturing park-AP MedTech Zone (AMTZ) here has developed a MonkeyPox PCR Kit.
image for illustrative purpose
Visakhapatnam In another first of its kind, a facility set up at India's first integrated medical devices manufacturing park-AP MedTech Zone (AMTZ) here has developed a MonkeyPox PCR Kit.
The kit is developed by Transasia Diagnostic Pvt Ltd. 's (TDPL), which has a technologically advanced world-class IVD production facility at AMTZ located with the initiative of the State Government with the patronage of Government of India. Transasia has the capacity to manufacture over 200 million test kits a month for monkeypox alone.
At a simple ceremony here, India's first monkeypox PCR test kit by Erba-Transasia was launched on Friday by Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India; Dr. Arabinda Mitra, Scientific Secretary, Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to GoI, Prof. Balram Bhargava, former Director-General of ICMR, Dr. Alka Sharma, Adviser in the Department of Biotechnology and Dr. Jitendra Sharma, MD & CEO, AMTZ.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently declared the rapidly spreading monkeypox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. According to the global health agency, there are over 16,000 reported cases of monkeypox in more than 75 countries including India.
Transasia-Erba Monkeypox RT-PCR kit is a highly sensitive but easy to use RT-PCR assay with uniquely formulated primer and probe for enhanced accuracy.
Dr. Jitendra Sharma in his address said "I congratulate the team at Transasia for launching yet another Made in India, next-gen, quality product for the health of the people of lndia. Monkeypox is a growing concern in the country as well as the world and test kits such as ErbaMDx Monkeypox RT PCR are the need of the hour for accurate diagnosis to control the spread of the infection."
With a legacy of over four decades, Transasia Bio-Medicals Ltd. India's leading In-vitro diagnostic company, is at the forefront for providing quality and affordable diagnostic equipment and test kits to pathology laboratories and hospitals even in the remotest areas of the country.
"It's a proud moment for us to launch another 'Made in India' highly sensitive RT-PCR test kit to our growing range of immunoassay and molecular solutions. This further emphasises our commitment to the health of the people of India and the world," announced Suresh Vazirani, Founder-Chairman of Transasia-Erba Group of Companies. "Being the first and only indigenously developed, highly sensitive MonkeyPox RT PCR, we are sure it will allow an opportunity for early detection and better management of infection. This also indicates that
the Transasia-Erba group is capable of producing affordable and reliable devices through innovative research," he cited.
Dr. Manoj Chugh, Vice President, R&D Reagents, Transasia Bio-Medicals Ltd. said "the ErbaMDx Monkeypox RT PCR kit is compatible with commonly available RT PCR analysis and extraction platforms. This kit further ensures zero cross reactivity from other orthopox viruses or organisms."
Dr. Ajay Kumar Sood while referring to the WHO briefing held on August 17 said that more than 35000 monkeypox cases were confirmed in 92 countries and 12 deaths are reported. He expressed his delight to launch the MonkeyPox kit from Transasia and remarked it as a timely launch.
Dr. Balram Bhargava too lauded Transasia's efforts for developing a highly sensitive and specific real-time PCR kit to detect monkeypox.
