India’s very own molecular diagnostics company, Mylab Discovery Solutions, has launched first indigenous COVID-19 RT-PCR testing kit is now stepping into antigen testing kits with the commercial approval from the ICMR. 

This kit was developed in partnership with Gujarat-based LabCare Diagnostics. LabCare is into clinical chemistry reagents, serology tests, immuno-chromatographic tests and urine analysis strips. 

It is the first truly Indian company kit to receive commercial approval from ICMR and is named as Pathocatch COVID-19 Antigen Rapid testing kit. The launch of the antigen testing kit is in line with the government’s expectation to increase rapid testing which is the Point-of-Care method and complements the more rigorous RT-PCR (Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) test to detect coronavirus. As infections surge across the country, more states are now allowing antigen-based rapid testing in India. 

Hasmukh Rawal, MD, Mylab Discovery Solutions said, “Mylab team is working really hard to fight this pandemic in every possible way. After bringing an affordable RT-PCR test to reduce dependence on foreign kits, we launched Compact XL to accelerate COVID-19 testing. Now, with the approval for an antigen testing kit, we will cover whole spectrum of COVID-19 testing and leave no stone unturned to fight this pandemic.” 

“While COVID-19 vaccine gets developed, aggressive testing is an important tool that we have. Mylab is committed to provide high-quality indigenous solutions for testing, which we believe has been possible because we had support from our investors and the government agencies such as BIRAC and TDB to name a few, With all this support, we hope to keep up in this fight,” added Sujit Jain, Director, Mylab. 

The kit is developed and manufactured in India and will be priced around Rs. 450.