COVID-19 virus developed by CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB). "This method developed by CSIR-CCMB is a simple variation of the existing gold standard RT-PCR method," the ministry of science and technology said in a statement.The dry swab-direct RT-PCR testing method is aimed at scaling up the testing by two to three fold with no new investment of resources, the ministry said.
Considering its lesser cost and quick turn-around time, ICMR has now issued an advisory for the use of CSIR-CCMB dry swab method.CSIR-CCMB has been testing samples for coronavirus since April 2020.
After working closely with the healthcare workers of Telangana, it identified some of the key issues that slow the testing process.