COVID-19: ICMR-NIV gives go ahead to Titan Biotech for viral transport medium kits

Titan Biotech Limited, a Rajasthan based company, has received the validation from ICMR-NIV on viral transport medium (VTM) kit for sample collection of COVID-19 samples.

In its report, as quoted by Titan Biotech in a press note, Indian Council of Medical Research – National Institute of Virology (ICMR – NIV) has specified that the VTM kits were tested among the negative and positive controlled samples of SARS-CoV-2.

“RNA was extracted and tested for viral targets (E, ORF1b and RdRp genes) and human RNaseP gene (internal control) using ICMR-NIV assay. The Viral target amplification was observed in the tubes which were spiked with virus. There was amplification of internal controls in all the samples. Moreover, the swabbed individuals did not report any discomfort during the swabbing process. All in all, the performance of Viral Transport Kits by Titan Biotech Ltd. has been found to be acceptable for collection, storage and transport of COVID-19 samples,” ICMR – NIV was quoted as saying by Titan Biotech in the press release.

As per company, the VTM kit complies with guidelines as recommended by WHO, CDC and ICMR. Along with a nasopharyngeal swab and an oropharyngeal swab, the kit is a complete package with 3ml Transport Medium in 10ml tube, it added.

Titan Biotech Ltd. is a biotechnology company which began its journey in 1992 with biological media Bases including Peptones.