DBT-THSTI has developed an aptamer based SARS-CoV 2 antigen detection assay.
Aptamers, structured nucleic acids, were used to detect the infection of SARS-CoV-2 by detecting its spike/nucleocapsid protein in nasopharyngeal swabs in an Aptamer Linked Immobilized Sorbent Assay (ALISA). Being a synthetic molecule, aptamers are generally free from batch-to-batch variations. The intellectual property of the technology was protected as Indian patent application, A panel of aptamers specific to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (Indian Patent Application No. 202011017852) and A panel of Aptamers for diagnosing Coronavirus disease (Indian Patent Application No. 202011034641). The Spike aptamer technology was transferred to MolBio Diagnostics Pvt. Ltd. and Nucleocapsid aptamer technology was transferred to Cambrian Bioworks
