Kerala has received approval from the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) to employ the Truenat test for diagnosing Nipah virus infections. The Truenat test employs a portable, smart chip-based, battery-operated RT-PCR (Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction) kit to detect the virus’s presence in a sample. It is the first kit in India to attain Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) for conducting Nipah virus tests. Truenat can be used in hospitals equipped with level 2 biosafety facilities, streamlining testing, outbreak detection, and the swift implementation of preventive measures.
Facts/Terms for UPSC Prelims
- Nipah Virus: A zoonotic virus that can be transmitted from animals to humans and is associated with severe respiratory and neurological symptoms.
- Emergency Use Authorization (EUA): A regulatory mechanism that allows the expedited use of medical products, like diagnostic tests or treatments, during public health emergencies.
- Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR): A laboratory technique used to detect and amplify RNA or DNA from a sample, crucial for diagnosing viral infections.
- Level 2 Biosafety Facilities: Laboratories or healthcare settings equipped with safety protocols and infrastructure to handle pathogens that pose a moderate risk to human health.