The Hindu : Front Page : Quick diagnosis kit for filariasis to go commercial

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 12, 2005

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Front Page

Quick diagnosis kit for filariasis to go commercial

K. Ramachandran

Developed by Anna University's Centre for Biotechnology

CHENNAI: A rapid action kit that helps in quick diagnosis of filariasis, developed by Anna University's Centre for Biotechnology and ready after years of trial, will be commercially launched by Span Diagnostics of Gujarat.

P. Kaliraj, who headed the team that developed the kit, is excited about its prospects.

"It is the culmination of 15 years of research, trials on animals and humans and validation by authenticating agencies like the World Health Organisation and the Indian Council for Medical Research."

The kit isolates antibodies and identifies filariasis, which is endemic in several parts of the country.

Filariae in body tissues cause the disease, often resulting in occlusion of the lymphatic channels that can lead to elephantiasis (swollen limbs and scrotum).

Dr. Kaliraj says the rapid flow through immuno-diagnostic kit identifies antibodies, estimating the presence of the parasite in the early stage itself.

"It is a blood smear test which can be done anywhere any time, without much in terms of equipment.

A few drops of blood on a filter paper taken at any time of the day can be tested... And it need not be immediate."

ICMR award

The Centre for Biotechnology bagged the ICMR tropical diseases award in 2002 and the Biotech Research Society of India award in 2003, said its head Narayanan.

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