RT-LAMP Testing Technology | UPSC

• Speed, simplicity and cost-effectiveness make this an ideal method for diagnosis.
• The novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, causes the Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) and this pandemic.

CURRENT METHOD

• The current method for SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis is the real time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test .

SHORTCOMING

• The test requires complex and costly equipment.
• It requires extensive training for potential users.

• The turnaround time is about 10 hours, so that the result will be available only by the next day.
• In remote places, the turnaround time further increases depending on the distance the samples need to travel.
• In short, the RT-PCR does not have the capacity to keep pace with the increasing demand.

COVID-19 SEROLOGY TESTS

• COVID-19 serology tests are also in use to detect antigens that are associated with the virus infection.
• These tests are easy to use with rapid results, as well as have minimal expenses.

• It has low sensitivity and high false negative/positive rates.
• [wc_highlight color=”yellow” class=””]ALSO READ : SERO-SURVEY’s AND COVID-19  [/wc_highlight]

SUPERIOR TECHNIQUE

• With the above-mentioned status of COVID-19 detection ambiguity, there is an urgent need for a better technique for COVID-19 testing.

• This is a one-step nucleic acid amplification method to multiply specific sequences of RNA of the coronavirus.

• Then, the DNA is amplified by the LAMP technique.
• Although the LAMP technique has been used in western countries for the past five years or more, the technique is new to the Indian IVD industry.

ADVANTAGES

• The LAMP technology has many advantages over RT-PCR technology.
• The RT-PCR test needs different temperatures in one cycle.
• The temperature of the solution has to be changed from 92 degrees C to 56 degrees C ; and this cycle has to be repeated.

• On the other hand, the new RT-LAMP technology is done at 65 degrees C.
• Where the DNA amplification is done at a constant temperature (isothermal), so that expensive thermal cycler is not required.

• Therefore the final assay is possible with a simple colour reaction, removing the need for very costly real time PCR machines.
• An equally important advantage of the LAMP technology is that the assay is so fast that results can be obtained within 30 minutes.
• This may be compared with the PCR technique which needs 8–10 hours for completion.
• This means that COVID-19 testing centres can report with accuracy in substantially lower turnover time.

• The PCR-based reagents are to be stored and transported at –20 degrees C, which needs deep freezers that escalate the cost.
• The LAMP technology does not need laborious preparation as in the case of RT-PCR.
• LAMP is cost effective and does not need complex expensive equipment.
• Assays can be performed with minimum skill and minimum infrastructure.

RECENTLY VALIDATED

• The LAMP technology has been recently validated by the Indian Council of Medical Research with sensitivity 98.7% and specificity 100%.
• Thus the LAMP technology is superior to the PCR technology–based COVID-19 kits where specificity is around 95% only.

INDIAN MANUFACTURERS

• Agappe Diagnostics have recently developed the LAMP technology indigenously, and their kit has been validated and approved by the ICMR for marketing.