Odisha starts trial run of ‘OmiSure’ kits for detection of Omicron variant
Odisha starts trial run of ‘OmiSure’ kits for detection of Omicron variant
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Bhubaneswar: Odisha has received TATA MD check OmiSure RT-PCR test kits, which it had ordered earlier this month to detect the presence of Omicron in samples from people who tested positive for COVID-19.
Bijay Mohapatra, Director of Health Services, told the media that the dry run is currently underway. "It will first be used for internal research, and then the kits will be distributed to districts reporting a higher number of cases," he explained.
In the first phase, the state purchased 30,000 OmiSure kits. According to Health Department sources, the kits have arrived and will be used primarily in four cities: Berhampur, Cuttack, Rourkela, and Bhubaneswar.
The Odisha government, in particular, had placed an order for 5 lakh of these kits, which were created in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research by Mumbai-based Tata Medical and Diagnostics Ltd (TATA MD) (ICMR).
Odisha was the first state in the country to order the company's kits, which can detect the Omicron strain of SARS-CoV2 in four hours during RT-PCR tests, according to the company.
Odisha has reported 202 Omicron cases so far.
Sundargarh had the highest test positivity rate of 36.1 percent until January 18, followed by Khurda with 31.1 percent. With a TPR of more than 7.5 percent, 25 districts are in the RED zone.
Khurda, Sundargarh, Cuttack, Sambalpur, and Balasore were in the RED zone in terms of active cases, with 29745, 10554, 5934, 3498, and 3227 cases, respectively, as of January 19.
