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This is an archive article published on August 30, 2024

3 indigenous Mpox testing kits get manufacturing nod

These kits are developed by Siemens healthcare, Transasia diagnostics, and JITM C Genes.

3 indigenous mpox testing kits get manufacturing nodThe approval criteria was a sensitivity and specificity of over 95%, the drug regulator said.

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) has approved the manufacturing of three indigenously developed kits for detecting mpox (previously known as monkeypox). The approval criteria was a sensitivity and specificity of over 95%, the drug regulator said.

These kits are developed by Siemens healthcare, Transasia diagnostics, and JITM C Genes.

“These RT-PCR kits use fluid samples from pox rashes to examine the virus. These kits were validated by the ICMR, but there’s no commercial manufacturing, as it is not required,” a Health Ministry official said.

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These three approved kits are among the six validated by the ICMR to detect the viral infection.

The ICMR had put out a call for companies to develop diagnostics and vaccines in 2022, when the first mpox cases were reported in India. The approval process for these detection kits was revived after the World Health Organization (WHO) earlier this month declared mpox to be a PHEIC (Public Health Emergency of International Concern) for the second time in as many years; the outbreak between July 2022 and May 2023 was also declared as PHEIC. India has reported 30 mpox cases since 2022, with the latest recorded in March 2024. The infection was initially recorded in people with a history of international travel, but later among others too.

Anonna Dutt is a Principal Correspondent who writes primarily on health at the Indian Express. She reports on myriad topics ranging from the growing burden of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension to the problems with pervasive infectious conditions. She reported on the government’s management of the Covid-19 pandemic and closely followed the vaccination programme. Her stories have resulted in the city government investing in high-end tests for the poor and acknowledging errors in their official reports. Dutt also takes a keen interest in the country’s space programme and has written on key missions like Chandrayaan 2 and 3, Aditya L1, and Gaganyaan. She was among the first batch of eleven media fellows with RBM Partnership to End Malaria. She was also selected to participate in the short-term programme on early childhood reporting at Columbia University’s Dart Centre. Dutt has a Bachelor’s Degree from the Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune and a PG Diploma from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. She started her reporting career with the Hindustan Times. When not at work, she tries to appease the Duolingo owl with her French skills and sometimes takes to the dance floor. ... Read More

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