To fight the war against coronavirus, the Nagpur-based National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) has transferred the know-how of the indigenously developed Saline Gargle RT-PCR technique, used for testing COVID-19 samples to MSME on 11th September 2021 in the presence of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari

The Saline Gargle RT-PCR technology is simple, fast, cost-effective, patient-friendly, and comfortable. It also provides instant test results and is well-suited for rural and tribal areas, given minimal infrastructure requirements. 

CSIR-NEERI stated that the innovation developed by the institute has been ‘dedicated to the nation’ to serve society. The know-how has been transferred to the Union Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME), on a non-exclusive basis. This would enable the innovation to be commercialized and licensed to all capable parties, including private, government, and various rural development schemes and departments.

The licensees are expected to set up manufacturing facilities for commercial production in the form of easily usable compact kits. In the light of the prevailing pandemic situation and probable third wave of COVID-19, CSIR-NEERI fast-tracked the know-how transfer process to potential licensees for its wider dissemination across the nation. 

“The Saline Gargle RT-PCR method needs implementation across the nation, especially in resource-poor regions like rural and tribal areas. This would result in faster and more citizen-friendly testing and will strengthen our fight against the pandemic. The MSME unit had approached CSIR-NEERI for commercializing the Saline Gargle RT-PCR technology developed by CSIR-NEERI. 

Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister, MSME

The principal inventor of Saline Gargle RT-PCR technology is NEERI scientist Dr. Krishna Khairnar and the team of research scholars of Environmental Virology, at CSIR-NEERI, Nagpur. 

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