New Delhi, March 15 -- Researchers from the Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology have modified their gene-editing technology-based FELUDA paper-strip diagnostic kit in such a manner that a simple PCR test can be used to detect mutated variants of the Sars-CoV-2 virus that causes coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

At present, to detect the UK, South Africa, or Brazilian variants, the entire genome of the virus has to be sequenced to look for specific mutations. This, however, adds cost and time to the process-three days in comparison to a few hours it takes to do a PCR.

After taking the name of the famous fictional Bengali detective for their first kit, the researchers have named the second one after the author of the detective ser...