Indian Team Researchers: Implements Covid-19 test which can detect infection in two-hours

An Indian-origin team of researchers led by Dr Ravindra Kolhe from Georgia-based Augusta University has developed a novel, accurate coronavirus test that can tell patients in if they are infected within about two hours, instead of waiting typically days to hear from remote testing facilities.

The team at the Georgia Esoteric and Molecular (GEM) laboratory at the Medical College of Georgia’s Department of Pathology, Augusta University, said the lab would also like to test samples from outside the immediate area when requested, but those details are still being worked out.

At the moment, the test is for patients whose samples are taken at the Augusta University’s Health System.

“We want patients and physicians in our community



to have timely access to information that will ultimately benefit us all by helping limit spread of the virus,” said Kolhe, director of the Lab and vice chair for translational research in the MCG Department of Pathology.

“More rapid identification of individuals who are infected will help ensure they get help as needed and that the risk of exposure to others is significantly reduced,” Kolhe added.

“We completed our COVID-19 assay validation on Sunday and immediately submitted the documentation to the FDA for their approval,” said Kolhe.

“This was a nonstop 90-hour effort by the phenomenal team in the GEM lab to develop this test, but we all felt a commitment to our community to make this test available here,” he added.