The recent visit of an Israeli team to India in connection with the Covid-19 response has drawn the attention of media across the globe. The team’s mission, termed “Operation Breathing Space”, was multi-fold, including working hand-in-hand with Indian authorities towards combatting the pandemic. The following sub-sections will provide a deeper analysis of this collaboration.
Joint Development of Rapid Testing Kits
India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is collaborating with Israel’s defence ministry research and development team on a significant project. The joint venture aims at creating four distinct types of rapid testing kits for Covid-19. These test kits are a breakthrough in medical technology as they can present results within a mere 30 seconds.
Diversified Types of Tests
The test kits include an audio test, a breath test, thermal testing, and a polyamino acid test. In the audio test, voice samples of the patients are recorded and scrutinized using cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning. A breath test employs a simple procedure in which the patient blows into a tube. This tube then uses terra-hertz, or high-frequency waves, to detect the viral presence. Thermal testing identifies the virus within saliva samples, and the polyamino acids test seeks to isolate proteins associated with Covid-19.
Customizing Approach for India
These kits are not developed generically but are customized based on trials conducted on Indian Covid-19 patients. Preliminary trials of these tests have already concluded in Israel with a small sample size and have shown positive potential.
Additional Aid from the Israeli Team
Alongside developing test kits, the Israeli team has also extended other assistance to enrich India’s fight against Covid-19. They brought along robotic equipment and wrist monitors, which aim to help doctors and nurses monitor patients without exposing themselves to potential infection risks. Furthermore, the team supplied 83 advanced respirators to aid patients suffering from severe symptoms.
Benefits
The innovative rapid tests offer a much-needed respite for India’s health-care professionals who have been tirelessly working against the pandemic. The quick testing facility could quench public impatience over Covid-19 test times and empower authorities to implement preventive measures at a faster pace, thereby curbing further viral spread.
Calling for Change
In the absence of a viable vaccine or cure, the immediate demand is to make testing as accessible as possible. As most cases exhibit asymptomatic progression, ensuring wider and more affordable availability of tests becomes a pressing priority. Simultaneously, concerns regarding over-reliance on rapid antigen tests in some regions need to be addressed. States and cities withholding data could harm collective efforts against the virus. Therefore, ensuring the harvest of accurate and easily available data becomes essential. Through guided efforts and cooperation, we can hope to restore normalcy sooner than later.
