Device ready for early detection of Dengue: IIT Delhi

IIT-Delhi has developed a device that gives dengue results within an hour and the handheld device also helps in rapid detection of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), IIT Delhi said.

 

The researchers have tested hundreds of blood samples in collaboration with the ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research (NIMR), New Delhi. The research work was funded by the IMPRINT India program of the Ministry of Education.

 

The device had been clinically tested in collaboration with the National Institute of Malaria Research, the institute said. "The device provides a sensitive, rapid and field-deployable diagnosis of dengue at the early stage," it added.

 

There are certain common diseases like dengue require rapid diagnosis but conventional diagnostic tools like nucleic acid detection using Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) is a time-taking process, which requires expensive equipment and reagents, IIT Delhi said.

 

The GLancing Angle Deposition (GLAD) research group at IIT Delhi’s Physics Department has developed a handheld Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) based platform, under the supervision of Professor JP Singh, principal investigator for early diagnosis of dengue virus.

 

In the GLAD technique, “only two micro-litres of a diluted serum was dropcasted on the SERS substrates and Raman spectra were collected by flashing 785 nm laser beam through the device”.

 

Speaking about the device, Prof. Singh said, “This ultrasensitive and handy device has a wide range of applications in the early-stage on-site detection of viral diseases and can produce the final report of investigation within an hour.

 

The research work was funded by the IMPRINT India program of the Ministry of Education with New Age Instruments and Materials Pvt Ltd as the industry partner.