In a first, scientists at a public laboratory in Mumbai have developed a rapid test to determine if an individual has silicosis, a lung disease caused due to exposure to silica.

The test kit detects levels of serum CC16 in a blood sample. The kit has been developed through a collaboration between the Mumbai team of the National Institute of Virology (NIV) and the National Institute for Occupational Health.

Dr ShyamSundar Nandi from the Mumbai laboratorysaid that India has a high burden of silicosis with an estimated 1.25 crore patients suffering from it at present.

This point of care test is like a pregnancy test kit and detects levels of serum CC16 in a drop of blood. Dr Nandi said that on the basis of the concentration of the serum, it will be possible to diagnose a patient with severe, or mild disease, or if he is likely to develop it in future. A serum CC16 value of 6 to 9 ng/mlpoints to early silicosis. The research work has been accepted in Nature Scientific Reports.

Silicosis is an incurable disease which occurs as a result of constant inhalation of large amounts of crystalline silica dust over the years. Silica is naturally found in stones, rock and sand, and individuals working in cement factories, marble cutting work or mines have the highest risk of developing the disease.

Dr Nandi stated that every day, eight crore people are exposed to silica in our country. The condition is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage. Early detection could therefore help the patient.

Most patients with silicosis develop tuberculosis. He added that India aims to eliminate tuberculosis by 2025, but this won’t be possible if we are not able to control silico-tuberculosis and silicosis.

The Indian Council of Medical Research has already given the technology to two companies in Delhi and Chennai.

Source: India times