IIT Guwahati Develops Clay-Based Technique for Accurate and Affordable COVID-19 Virus Detection

IIT Guwahati Develops Clay-Based Technique for Accurate and Affordable COVID-19 Virus Detection

IIT Guwahati Develops Clay-Based Technique for Accurate and Affordable COVID-19 Virus Detection

Why in News?

  • The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati has developed a low-cost clay sedimentation technique for the rapid and accurate detection of the COVID-19 virus in environmental samples. This innovation comes as a significant breakthrough for public health monitoring, especially in resource-constrained regions.

Important Key Points:

  • Clay Sedimentation Process:
    Scientists at IIT Guwahati have used a unique sedimentation process with locally available clay to separate viral particles from wastewater and other environmental samples.

  • Affordable and Scalable:
    The technique is cost-effective, simple to implement, and can serve as a scalable solution in developing countries where laboratory testing is limited.

  • Public Health Utility:
    This technique could help in early detection of viral outbreaks by monitoring sewage water—supporting wastewater epidemiology.

  • Scientific Validation:
    The method has shown high accuracy and reliability in detecting SARS-CoV-2 viral loads when compared with conventional methods.

  • Broader Implications:
    Beyond COVID-19, the approach holds potential for tracking other pathogens in water systems and can be integrated into nationwide surveillance systems.

Source: SA

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