A recently established biotechnology company based in Kathmandu, Intrepid Nepal Pvt. Ltd., has claimed that it has successfully detected proviral HIV DNA using molecular based technique utilizing Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) in its Thapathali based laboratories, from blood samples obtained from consenting HIV-affected individuals. This is the first time the technique of QPCR has been used to precisely detect HIV incorporated within the human genome, in Nepal, a press release by the company said.
The HIV virus becomes lethal once it becomes part of the human genome (provirus). To date, there have been no reports of HIV virus being quantified or detected as a provirus in any laboratory in the country. This company, with focus on molecular diagnostics of infectious diseases, has already carried out a number of tests including detection and quantification of Tuberculosis (TB) causing bacteria using real time Polymerase Chain Reaction (QPCR), again a first of its kind within the country.
According to a press release, the company also hopes to foster biotechnology in Nepal by providing accurate diagnostic services in areas of infectious and chronic diseases (such as HIV, HPV, Hepatitis, TB), genetic disorders, paternity determination and other tests that require genomic (DNA and RNA) detection.
nepalnews.com Nov 10 08
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