First Indian rapid COVID-19 at-home testing kit launched

It is good news -First made-in-India coronavirus testing kits has reached the market, to facilitate an increase in screening of patients with flu symptoms to confirm or rule out the Covid-19 infection.

Genetic and microbiome testing firm Bione on Thursday said it has launched a rapid COVID-19 at-home screening test kit that displays accurate results within minutes. The kit is approved by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and will be deployed in the market after proper quality checks and assurance, Bione said in a statement. The product has been sourced from the company's worldwide CE and FDA approved partners and will be brought to market after stringent quality controls have been ensured. The company is in the process of getting approval for more United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) approved partners, Bione said in a statement.

Bione is well-equipped to supply 20,000 kits per week and intends to build its manufacturing facilities in the coming months to sufficiently cater to the high demand, it added. "COVID-19 home screening test kit has emerged as a breakthrough product in such unprecedented times. By bringing down the result time, we are looking to make an impact and help India fight COVID-19," Bione CEO Surendra Chikara said. Bione urges people to undergo a laboratory test if someone shows the symptoms of coronavirus, the statement said.

The easy-to-use kit displays accurate results within minutes, instrumental in the timely screening of the deadly virus. The at-home screening kit is available for sale on their platform bione.in .

The screening kit for coronavirus shall provide respite from the impending fear of the contagion as simple point-of-care home screening kit is easy to operate and renders quick results.The kit is priced between INR 2000-3000/- depending upon the global supply, to increase its affordability for the masses.

Speaking on the launch, Dr Surendra Chikara, CEO, Bione said, "We had been tracking the pandemic and pooled in a lot of time, resources and attention in our mission to develop a tool effective in curbing the outbreak. COVID-19 Home Screening test kit has emerged as a breakthrough product in such unprecedented times. By bringing down the result time, we are looking to make an impact and help India fight COVID-19. We strongly believe that the government's support is pivotal in leading a revolution against coronavirus."