Today when there is a fresh
case, the patient’s sample is
taken to a central laboratory. The
amount of time used to send the
test sample and get the result
report is currently very huge.
Doctors are giving the medicines
immediately today because
they can’t wait for results as
the patient’s condition might
deteriorate
researchers in UK and
vice versa. We are
holding a workshop in
October to facilitate
that. We have done
it in Pune, Mumbai,
Delhi and Bangalore.
How has been the
response from the
individuals and
startups at these
workshops?
This prize has been
open since 2014 but
there are many in
India who were not
aware about it. So
besides connecting
with them, the
workshops offer a
platform to exchange
and generate new
ideas. The people are
curious about the prize
and thus ask lot of
questions. One thing
that is daunting is the
30 minutes of point
of care. We are asking
for the miniaturization
and stable reagents,
they don’t require
refrigeration. From
the sample taken and
result delivered should
not take more than
30 minutes. As a test
developer, it is a big
challenge.
Talking about the
Longitudinal Prize
product outcome
after 2019, how
will the masses
benefit from the
innovation? What
kind of product is
expected?
The mission behind
the Prize itself is
to come up with
an innovative and
affordable product
for tackling antibiotic
resistance which is a
mass issue. It could
be like pregnancy tests
where the strips are
thrown away after
one use. The tests
will be for developing
countries and hence
based on type of test,
the cost naturally
will be much lesser
comparatively. The
hand held reader type
device could be also
good for patients due
to miniaturization.
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