Countries across the globe are trying to do everything in their power to get the coronavirus pandemic under control. With all hands on deck, India and Israel are currently on their way to test four rapid testing kits that can detect COVID-19 infection in just 30 seconds? Sounds astonishing, right? Well, let’s count our lucky stars because the world’s dream of ramping up the COVID-19 testing is about to come true. Check it out!
Israel issued a statement stating that Israel and India are conducting the rapid testing kits trials. These rapid testing kits can detect COVID-19 in just 30 seconds. It includes a breath analyzer and a voice test. For the last three days, the trials are going on at the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, New Delhi. RML is one of the four hospital sites where rapid testing trials are going on. Israeli Ambassador to India, Ron Malka also graced the hospital with his visit. The principal scientific advisor to the Prime Minister of India, Prof. K Vijay Raghavan also accompanied the Israeli Ambassador.
The whole program is under the control of the ministries of Foreign Affairs India and Israel. The program is under the joint supervision of the Defence Research and Development Directorate of the Israeli Ministry of Defence, India’s Defence Research and Development Organization, and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and Principal Scientific Advisor, India.
What do the COVID-19 Rapid Testing Kits Include?
These COVID-19 detecting technologies are non-invasive. It includes a voice test that analyzes the changes in a patient’s voice using artificial intelligence. It also includes a breath analyzer test. This test detects the coronavirus in a patient’s body using terra waves when he/she blows into a tube. The other two tools of rapid testing are isothermal testing and polyamino acids test. The isothermal testing identifies the coronavirus in the saliva of a patient. The polyamino acids test helps to isolate the proteins related to COVID-19.
If the trials being conducted in India turn out to be successful, then India will manufacture these rapid testing kits on a large scale. The rapid testing kits will then be distributed worldwide by Israel and India jointly. Speaking about the rapid testing kits, Ron Makka, Israeli Ambassador to India, said, “If even one of these tests is successful in detecting the virus in as less as half a minute, it will be the biggest breakthrough in COVID-19 identification that the world has been waiting for.”
He added to his statement, “By combining advanced Israeli and Indian technology and India’s manufacturing prowess, we can find a way to resume our lives and jointly exist alongside COVID-19 till a vaccine is developed.”
What Does this Partnership Mean for India & Israel?
Prof. Vijay Raghavan also issued a statement. He said, “What was yesterday considered esoteric research is now being tested for implementation. Such robust tests are the touchstone of science. The trust and friendship between the two countries that have developed over the years have made the ongoing studies happen with speed and quality. I’m sure that some of these will be successful and result in great value to our countries and humanity.”
This partnership further cements the strategic relationship between India and Israel to cooperate on the innovations relating to COVID-19. Israel also supported India by delivering monitoring equipment that reduces the exposure of healthcare workers to the virus. Along with that, 83 advanced respirators with a special waiver were also delivered. The world hopes that this dire situation will come to pass and with the continuous efforts of researchers across the globe, we’ll soon defeat the dreaded COVID-19.
