NIHFW, NRDC sign MoU for transfer of tech for testing kits

New Delhi, June 14 (UNI) The National Institute of Health&Family Welfare (NIHFW) and National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding today for transfer of technology developed by the NIHFW in the fields of Thermo Stable Elisa Kits for testing HIV/AIDS and Laboratory Kits for Testing Sperm Functions used in infertility treatment.

The up scaling of technologies developed by the Institute will also be taken up by NRDC for commercialisation. Prof Deoki Nandan, Director, NIHFW and Mr Somenath Ghosh, Chairman&Managing Director, NRDC signed the MoU. This is the first time that the technology developed by NIHFW is being taken up for commercialisation.

Thermo Stable Elisa Kits technology allows enzyme conjugate and antibody to retain their enzymatic and immunological activity respectively at 37 degrees Centrigrate for three months or more than two years at 2 to 8 degrees Centigrade.

The thermo stability technology for enzyme conjugate can have applicative value in those Elisa kits that are based on the use of enzyme horseradish peroxidase as label. The imported kits wherein horseradish peroxidase enzyme used are not thermo stable (can not with stand higher temperature of 37 degrees Centrigrade for more than twenty four hours). They require cold chain for their transport and storage. The new technologies are useful in production of Thermo-Stable Elisa Kits.

Three technological kits have been developed for testing sperm functions. These will help to test many of the specialised functions of the sperms which otherwise are not routinely examined. It will strengthen the existing diagnostic tools in the male infertility diagnosis and management. It has the great potential to be routinely used in human sperm banks and can be extended in the same area for veterinary applications.

At present no such laboratory kit for sperm function is available in the market. The kits do not require any imported material and have been developed indigenously.

In addition, the institute has also developed a vaginal contraceptives water based technology. It is very effective and less expansive and expected to get wide acceptability.

UNI