FELUDA
- October 12, 2020
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
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Subject: Science and tech
Context: Union Health Minister announced that a paper strip test for COVID-19, named Feluda, will be commercially launched within next few weeks.
Concept:
- Feluda is the acronym for FNCAS9 Editor Linked Uniform Detection Assay.
- It is an accurate and low-cost paper-based test strip to detect Covid-19 in less than 30 minutes.
- It was approved recently for commercial launch by the Drugs Controller General of India.
- Developed by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Tata Group.
- It uses indigenously developed CRISPR gene-editing technology to identify and target the genetic material of SARS-CoV2, the virus that causes Covid-19.
Significance:
- According to CSIR, the test matches accuracy levels of RT-PCR tests.
- It has a quicker turnaround time and requires less expensive equipment.
- ‘Feluda’ is also the world’s first diagnostic test to deploy a specially adapted Cas9 protein to successfully detect the virus.