Maharashtra's Minister of Tourism & Environment Aditya Thackeray and Heath Minister Rajesh Tope endorsed an IIT Alumni Council's initiative – the first Covid-19 Test bus by launching this effort recently. The Bus is an initiative by the C19 Taskforce of IIT Alumni Council that was brought to life with support from the Health Department of MCGM, Dr. Muffazal Lakadawala and Krsnaa Diagnostics Private Limited. To onboard lab space on the test bus, the IIT Aluni Council has partnered with Krsnaa Diagnostics, a venture-capital funded laboratory in India. In a country of 1.3 billion people, a pandemic such as this necessitates solutions that are affordable, accurate as well as scalable to millions. In the absence of any proven treatment, there is a desperate need for increased levels of testing, particularly in clusters or containment zones. The C19 Test Bus facilitates access to affordable and rapid testing to people in dense urban areas whilst at the same time isolating doctors and facilitating large scale testing during the monsoons. "The IIT Alumni Council has taken a proactive approach to supporting the government's efforts in fighting Covid-19 challenge. We have acted swiftly and set up the IIT C10 Task Force to channelize the energies of the global alumni for the fight," said Ravi Sharma, president of the IIT Alumni Council. "The IIT C19 Test Bus is based on the Kodoy architecture model that can facilitate affordable and rapid testing. It involves e-vehicles for sample selection & telemedicine, algorithm based pooled genetic testing and megalabs that are capable up to five million tests per month per lab. "The C19 Test Bus is based on indigenous technology and to the best of our knowledge is the first vehicle of its king in the world with onboard genetic testing, AI-based teleradiology and contactless sample collection. We chose Mumbai as the launch location given the relatively high number of cases is the city," Sharma said. The medical equipment on board comprises a low dosage digital X-ray, real time teleradiology, contactless swab collection and instant RNA testing. The bus has been configured keeping for heavy rains and has 384 sq.ft of lab space onboard. It also has a wireless robotic tele-operated ultrasound lung probe and nanopore gene sequencer. The C19 Test Bus will be visiting various slum locations across Mumbai and would effectively isolate the high-risk suspects. It can reduce the cost of testing by over 80% without compromising on testing. IIT Alumni Council is the largest global body of alumni, students & faculty across all 23 Indian Institute of Technology (IITs) having over 100 city chapters. — Agencies
