In the wake of the rising number of chikungunya cases in the country, Bhat Biotech is now reworking its strategy to market its dedicated rapid test kit which can confirm the presence of the infected Alpha-virus, that is transmitted to humans by the aedes mosquitoes.

The 'Bhat Bio-Scan' for IgM spot test is a rapid test to identify IgM antibodies of the deadly virus in human serum/plasma. The company which introduced the kit early this year has been able to market it to the private laboratories and hospitals across the country. The government sector is a huge untapped segment. The company's initial efforts to garner a large order from the state and central governments are yet to be materialized.

According to the latest government data, over the 71,000 suspected cases of chikungunya were reported in the country. The states of Karnataka and Kerala topped the list. While Karnataka reported 46,033 cases, Kerala had 24,631 cases.

"Our chikungunya kit is the first-of-its-kind in the country and we will need to increase our presence going by the increasing number of cases being reported in the country. Faster diagnosis can help physician confirm the presence of the virus and offer the right treatment option," Dr Shama Bhat, chairman and managing director, told Pharmabiz.

The indigenously developed product which underwent two years of exhaustive study is being manufactured at the company facility located at the Veerasandra industrial Area on the outskirts of Bangalore.

To begin with, exhaustive studies were carried out on the infected samples at 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 were approached to carry out the blood sample tests using the kit.

The company teamed-up with the National Institute of Virology, Pune for the reagents and validation of the kits.

According to Dr. Bhat, the kit is proven for its high sensitivity. Its recombinant antigens are derived from the structural protein of chikungunya which helps to provide the high specificity. This allows it to detect a 15- day post infection condition. The kit is is priced at Rs. 120 and has a shelf life of 18 months.

A typical pack of the 'Bhat Bio-Scan' for IgM spot test includes a test device, droppers and ready-to-use buffer solution and gold conjugate.

The company has a production capacity of around 40,000 a day. Ending March 2008, the company clocked a turnover of Rs 10 crore. Bhat Biotech has set a target sale of Rs 2 crore by end of 2010 with the new kit.