The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has signed a technology transfer agreement with Molbio Diagnostics., licensing the commercialisation of EnViro-Q, India’s first multiplex real-time RT-PCR assay for detecting enteric viruses.

Developed by ICMR-National Institute for Research in Bacterial Infections (NIRBI), Kolkata, this breakthrough diagnostic tool addresses a critical gap in managing viral gastroenteritis in children.

Through this collaboration, Molbio Diagnostics aims to make EnViro-Q accessible worldwide, particularly in public health sectors, under a revenue-sharing model with ICMR. EnViro-Q will be made available at a cost-effective price, particularly for the public sector.

As one of the leading causes of childhood mortality, viral gastroenteritis has posed persistent diagnostic challenges. Existing methods often misidentify viral infections as bacterial, leading to the irrational use of antibiotics. EnViro-Q, with comparable sensitivity and specificity to commercial imported assays, offers reliable results within 2-2.5 hours, ensuring timely diagnosis and treatment.

By providing an effective method to detect co-infections and prevent repeated testing, EnViro-Q is poised to greatly enhance diagnostic capabilities in primary healthcare settings.