Current Affairs
Daily Bits

RT-LAMP: a new technology for detecting COVID-19

  • Posted By
    10Pointer
  • Categories
    Science & Technology
  • Published
    30th Nov, 2020

RT-LAMP (Reverse Transcriptase loop-mediated isothermal amplification) technology is a one-step nucleic acid amplification method to multiply specific sequences of RNA of the coronavirus

What is RT-LAMP?

  • RT-LAMP (Reverse Transcriptase loop-mediated isothermal amplification) technology is a one-step nucleic acid amplification method to multiply specific sequences of RNA of the coronavirus.

How it works?

  • The RNA is first made into cDNA (copy DNA) by the usual reverse transcription.
  • Then, the DNA is amplified by the LAMP technique.

Advantages of LAMP

  • The LAMP technology has many advantages over RT-PCR technology.
  • The RT-PCR test needs different temperatures in one cycle. On the other hand, the new RT-LAMP technology is done at 65 degrees C, where the DNA amplification is done at a constant temperature (isothermal), so that expensive thermal cycler is not required.
  • The quantity of DNA amplified in the LAMP technology is hundred thousand times more than that is taking place in PCR. Therefore the final assay is possible with a simple colour reaction, removing the need for very costly real time PCR machines.
  • The LAMP technology has been recently validated by the Indian Council of Medical Research with sensitivity 98.7% and specificity 100%.
  • A confirmatory, accurate, rapid, low-cost, and user-friendly molecular diagnostic method is the prerequisite to address COVID-19 pandemic.

Verifying, please be patient.

X