European Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine

Omicron, a new variant of Covid-19 has hit the India in the third wave during 2022. The outbreak of this new variant has increased globally. At this time, there is an urgent need of fast, reliable and effective detection method. The real time RT-PCR is the most used technique for the detection of viral DNA. In the present study ‘OmiSure’ kit developed by Mumbai-based Tata Medical and Diagnostics Ltd (TATA MD) in partnership with The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) was used for direct detection of Omicron variant in the SARS-CoV-2 positive samples via multiplex real time RT-PCR as a diagnostic tool. The reaction was tested targeting viral RNA and human target mRNA sequence using S gene target failure and S- gene mutation amplification strategy. In the present study 532 samples were tested for the presence of Omicronin the SARS-CoV-2 positive samples. The study found that a total of 501 individuals were positive for Omicron variant while 31 individuals were detected to be of other variants. Further these 31 SARS-CoV-2 positive samples were processed by nanopore whole genome sequencing and identified as Delta and its sub variants of SARS-CoV-2. These sequences were submitted in Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomic Consortium (INSACOG) and Global Initiative on Sharing Avian Influenza Data (GISAID). The study showed that OmiSure kit is an accurate, fast and easy to use rRT-PCR Omicron diagnostic assay