Covid-19 Detection Using Mass Spectrometer developed

Covid-19 Detection Using Mass Spectrometer developed

Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III- Science and Technology

In news

• Researchers from the Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB) and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) have developed a technique that uses mass spectrometry to detect novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2).

Important value additions

Mass Spectrometry (MS)

• It is an analytical technique used for determining the elemental composition of samples, quantifying the mass of particles and molecules, and explaining their chemical structure.
• MS is based on ionization and fragmentation of sample molecules in the gaseous phase.
• The new technique based on mass spectrometry relies on detecting the presence of two peptides which are unique to SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Do you know?

• The new method can directly detect the virus without amplifying the RNA for detection.
• With the new technique, scientists have been able to detect novel coronavirus with 95% sensitivity and 100% specificity with respect to RT-PCR. 
• This is much better than the alternative rapid antigen kits.
• Detection of the virus takes less than three minutes;
• The method also allows for effective pooling of samples.
• Different Types of Test for Detecting Covid-19: (1) RT-PCR Tests; (2) Rapid Antigen Detection Tests; (3) RTnPCR Tests; (4) Feluda Tests; (5) ELISA Antibody Tests; (6) SalivaDirect Test