Principal Scientific Adviser Dr K  Vijayraghavan on Thursday said the RT-PCR test — the gold standard in India—looks for viral genetic material but soon a test that detects the viral particle’s presence is on the anvil.

“As for testing and diagnosis, a new kind of test is likely to come up for testing of virus particle presence. Several nucleic acid tests have been developed, variations of RT-PCR tests have been developed. Then there are antibody tests.

“If sensitivity and specificity of antibody tests are high, they can be used to test at individual level. Otherwise, they can be used for community surveillance purpose,” said  Dr Vijayraghavan, at a media briefing here.

Dr VK Paul, member of the  Niti Ayog and chairman of the Empowered Group 1 said that at least 20 Indian companies are now producing diagnostic kits. “India will be able to produce 5 lakh indigenous kits daily by July,” he said, adding the manufacturers will be able to export after the domestic demands are fully met.

Till last month, India had been heavily dependent on other countries as it had been importing the testing kits. However, now the local manufacturers too have jumped in the fray in a big way.

To bring the scientists and laboratories in touch with private firms to produce millions of testing kits, including around 10 million rapid antibody tests that offer quick results is being done under the project called Consortium for affordable and rapid diagnostics (CARD), spearheaded by the NITI Aayog and the Central Government’s Department of Biotechnology.

The first goal of project CARD will be to churn out at least 10 million or 1 crore rapid antibody tests for Covid-19 by July 2020.

The final aim is to make India a diagnostic export powerhouse by the end of 2020. It also seeks to bolster India’s capabilities in manufacturing reagents, probes, primers, and other components needed for diagnostics.

“The final frontier for the fight against Covid-19 is science and technology. The base of our institutions of science and technology, bio-tech and pharma industry is strong. The entire infrastructure is engaged in the war against Covid-19,” said Dr Paul.