NIV Pune Develops First Indigenous Rapid Antibody Test Kit; Mass Production To Begin Soon

In a major development, the National Institute of Virology (NIV) situated in Pune, Maharashtra has achieved success in developing the nation's first indigenous COVID-19 antibody test kit, reports Financial Express.

The positive development was made public by Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Dr Harsh Vardhan. He also highlighted that the test kit developed by NIV, Pune boasts of the advantage to test 90 samples in a single run of 2.5 hours.

The development gains much significance as it comes in the backdrop of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) having cancelled orders for over half a million rapid antibody test kits from China after those were found to be delivering inaccurate results.