India and Israel to Develop Rapid Test For COVID-19

In News

India and Israel to work on developing rapid testing for COVID-19 in under 30 seconds.

In-Detail

A team of high-ranking Israeli Defense Ministry Research and Indian team will collaboratively work on developing rapid testing for COVID-19 in under 30 seconds.
A special flight from Israel will land in India in a few weeks.
The flight will bring emerging Israeli technologies for combating COVID-19.
This is facilitated by the Israeli Foreign Ministry (MFA) and the private sector.
The Government of Israel has given special permission for export to India to deliver mechanical ventilators.
To determine the effectiveness of several rapid diagnostic solutions, the team will conduct a series of tests.
The team includes Israeli delegations led by the Directorate of Defense Research and Development in the Ministry of Defense, Indian Scientists and the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO).
The MFA, MoD and Israel Defense Forces have given unique access to one of the largest economies.

Technologies

The technologies to be tested include Artificial Intelligence-based online voice test and breathalyzer test, testing using polyamino acids and isothermal testing.
The online voice test and breathalyzer allows to record a human voice and identifies changes in the patient’s voice or deterioration in the condition of patient’s respiratory system by detecting the virus using Terra-Hertz (THz) waves.
In isothermal testing, the patient’s saliva samples are collected and the detection of the virus is known with the help of chemical reaction and produces the result within 30 min.
With polyamino acids, testing is also done through saliva samples and produces the result in a few minutes.

Conclusion

India and Israel have a very special relationship. Both countries have been pursing collaborate research efforts across sectors for a very long time. The current collaborative effort follows the same path. Time and again Israel has proved that it is a worthy partner for India.

Rapid test kits are essential in curtailing the spread of the virus. The current available test kits take time with some taking more than two days to deliver results. The research is the need of the hour and hopefully commercialisation of the test kits will follow.