In a major research and development effort in the annals of Indian biotechnology diagnostics arena, Bangalore-based Bhat Biotech has indigenously developed India's first chikungunya rapid test kit. The kit, which is a first-of-its-kind in the country, is now expected to provide much relief to the patients. The test helps to confirm chikungunya, a virus that is transmitted to humans by aedes mosquitoes.

The chikungunya kit known as 'Bhat Bio-Scan' for IgM spot test is a rapid test to identify IgM antibodies of the deadly virus in human serum/plasma. The product has received the clearance from the Karnataka drugs control department.

The company took two years for research on the product development.

Field trials were carried out in South Kanara and Kasargod district in Karnataka. The National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore and Vijayanagar Institute of Medical Sciences (VIMS), Bellary in Karnataka are carrying out blood sample tests using the kit. Bhat Biotech collaborated with the National Institute of Virology, Pune for the reagents and validation of the kits.

The company has a production capacity of around 40,000 a day. The cost of the kit is Rs 120 and prices are expected to come down once the demand increases. The contents of the kit include the test device, droppers and ready-to-use buffer solution and gold conjugate.

Key features of the kit are that it is simple to use and is sensitive because it can detect around 15 days post infection. The shelf life is 18 months. The recombinant antigens are derived from structural protein of chikungunya which has been used to give high specificity.

The Rs 10 crore Bhat Biotech has set a target sale of Rs 2 crore by end of 2010. Markets have already been identified in the country and the exports orders have been tapped in the Asian countries, including Korea and Malaysia. In India, the kit is marketed through 200 distributors.