National Institute of Virology

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This is a collection of articles archived for the excellence of their content.

R&D

Method to make viruses inactive/ 2018

Umesh Isalkar, NIV develops way to make viruses inactive, February 1, 2018: The Times of India

Won’t Hit Cell Structure, Make Testing Easier

Scientists at the citybased National Institute of Virology (NIV) have developed a breakthrough technology which promises to revolutionise the present procedure of testing deadly viruses in India and abroad.

The scientists have developed compounds, which can be added to blood collection tubes (vacutainer) to instantly render a wide range of viruses non-infectious, without affecting their cell structure. Thus, the method eliminates biorisks involved in handling deadly viruses, making their testing possible even at common laboratories. Eventually, it eliminates the need to test such samples at highly secured bio-safety labs, eliminating huge expenses on logistics and delays in diagnosis.

“The technology has the potential to change the way clinical laboratories are currently functioning across the world. It can protect laboratory workers from viruses and ensure safe experimenting with highly infectious agents even at common laboratories,” senior scientist and NIV director Devendra Mourya told TOI.

The method, scientists said, will come in handy in countries like India where there is a dearth of highlyequipped containment laboratories. The NIV has handed over the novel technology to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), an apex body in the country for the formulation, coordination and promotion of biomedical research, for commercial transfer to industry.

“The technology is indigenous, cost-effective and can be easily incorporated in the manufacturing process of blood collection tubes in India and elsewhere. Our only rider is that the manufacturing companies have to supply the tubes containing the compounds at cheaper rates to make it accessible to every lab in the country,” Mourya said.

The reagents or chemical compounds that render the viruses inactive remain stable even at room temperature. They don’t need to be preserved in cold temperature. “The inactivation of the viruses does not affect biochemical, haematological, serological and molecular tests. This is where scientists working on developing similar methods have failed in the past,” Mourya said.

Scientists say the method will come in handy in countries like India where there is a dearth of highly-equipped containment laboratories