Viral Transport Media kits by Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT-G) launched

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT-G) has developed high quality and affordable Sterile "SPILD" VTM kits, RT-PCR kits and RNA isolation kits.

The Viral Transport Media (VTM) kits were launched by Minister of Finance, Health and Family Welfare, Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday in the presence of Samir Kumar Sinha, Principal Secretary, Professor Siddhartha Sankar Ghosh and Prof. Parameswar Krishnan Iyer, professors from the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG), Dr Achyut Chandra Baishya (Principal-cum-Chief Superintendent) GMCH, among others.

The "SPILD" VTM kits have already been handed over to National Health Mission, Assam and Guwahati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH). The 'Made in Assam/India' kits will spur affordable and high quality healthcare products development in Assam and provide access to world-class kits and product development as well as career opportunities to healthcare professionals and students and an important step in PM's 'Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan', stated a release.

Speaking about this at the launch of these kits, Minister Sarma said, "Assam has been successfully leading the fight against COVID-19 pandemic and our initiatives have gone a long way in containing this disease in the entire NE region. We want to identify and contain this disease at an early stage and it is vital that we have all the crucial kits and materials so that our frontline healthcare workers and doctors who are doing a commendable job do not face any hurdles. We are very happy with this product development and launch of the VTM and other COVID-19 related kits in IIT Guwahati, Assam and I congratulate the Director of IIT Guwahati and the faculty members for this development as well as acknowledge the other help being provided to us."

Speaking about this timely and remarkable development, Prof. TG Sitharam, Director, IIT Guwahati, added that the premier institute has been in the forefront in this fight against COVID-19 and has been supporting the Assam government during this pandemic time. On receiving the request from NHM Director to provide these VTM kits, the institute began production of these sterile and affordable VTM kits; and the first batch has been already delivered to GMCH."  

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