AI diagnostics startup MediCircle Health has recently introduced in India a rapid spectrometry-based test that employs machine learning and artificial intelligence to detect COVID-19.

WHAT IT DOES

Spectral Instant Test (SpectraLIT) is a point-of-care diagnostic platform that performs spectral analysis to accurately and instantly determine if a spectral pattern of a virus from a nasal or mouthwash sample resembles SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19. The test can deliver results "within seconds of its use", according to a press release by MediCircle.

The company shared that the portable solution can be used for entry screening at various airports, malls, schools and other venues. It can also potentially enable secure and real-time reporting to health and other designated authorities.

The testing platform does not require any reagents or chemicals; it only requires a computer, an internet connection, a plastic cuvette and saline water.

The press statement noted that based on studies done in Israel, the test has a near 95% concordance to RT-PCR, while studies in India showed the solution having a 93.5% concordance to RT-PCR.

MediCircle also shared that the algorithm of the testing platform can be adjusted to detect variants of SARS-CoV-2.

WHY IT MATTERS

SpectraLIT was jointly developed by Israeli chipmaker Newsight Imaging and Sheba Medical Centre's ARC Innovation Centre. Hong Kong-based AI Innobio, the license holder of the technology for Asia-Pacific, has made an exclusive tie-up with MediCircle to bring the test to India.

MediCircle said in a statement that it is crucial to deploy rapid test kits like SpectraLIT given warnings of a possible third wave of COVID-19 infections and more virus variants in India. In late June, India sounded the alarm on the Delta Plus variant, a mutation from the Delta strain first discovered in the country, that can be more infectious and cause severe symptoms.

"Detecting the spread of infection in real-time is the first step to containing it. This will also help ease both domestic and international travel restrictions and help bring back people safely to their work environments," the company said.

Total COVID-19 cases in India reached 30.8 million as of late, based on Johns Hopkins University's COVID-19 Dashboard. The country has fully vaccinated 5.4% of its population, administering around 370 million vaccines, according to the Financial Times COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker.

SpectraLIT has been recognised and accepted by the Indian Council of Medical Research. It was also cleared for use in Europe and has yet to receive US FDA approval. The test is currently being deployed in 36 hospitals across North and Latin America, Asia-Pacific, Europe and the Middle East.

According to MediCircle, later enhancements will enable the AI diagnostic solution to test for other diseases such as influenza, tuberculosis, malaria, dengue, UTIs and even sickle cell disease.

MARKET SNAPSHOT

AI has been utilised in commercially available COVID-19 tests. The CE-IVD approved LooK SPOT was the first reported AI-powered rapid COVID-19 antigen test. Two UAE-based companies YAS Pharmaceuticals and Pure Health worked with the Internet of Medical Things specialist Laipac Technology from Canada to develop the solution that uses a smartphone app to screen signs of COVID-19 from a nasal sample.

Another product is the Virolens system by British startup iAbra. Based on AI and microscopic holographic imaging, the COVID-19 testing device was said to deliver results within 20 seconds.

ON THE RECORD

"A few months ago when we experienced a COVID-19 crisis at home, we understood the importance of a fast testing kit and how it can drastically uplift the current situation. With SpectraLIT, India will be able to test accurately and rapidly – not within days, not within hours, not within minutes but within seconds. India will fight back with SpectraLIT," Pranav Kohli, a partner at MediCircle, said.

"SpectraLIT can help India reopen safely and keep businesses, offices, industries, restaurants, sports and travel safe from COVID-19," Rajit Shah, also a partner at MediCircle, said.