Vistara Presents Flight To Flight to Riverdale - A Journey Back To 1964 In Collaboration With Netflix's The Archies

Vistara, India’s finest full-service carrier and a joint venture of the Tata group and Singapore Airlines, is thrilled to announce its exclusive collaboration with Netflix for the highly anticipated upcoming film, The Archies, for a one-of-a-kind experience - 'Flight to Riverdale.' The special flight UK 1964, welcomed aboard the cast of the film for this unique experience along with lucky fans and select Club Vistara members amongst others. Set in the 1960s, the film reimagines the legendary Archie comics as a live-action musical set in the imaginary idyllic town of Riverdale in India.

UK 1964; the ‘Flight to Riverdale’ commenced from Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi at 14:40 hours and arrived at Manohar International Airport, Goa at 17:15 hours. The flight was operated on Vistara’s iconic Retrojet and aimed to offer the passengers a nostalgic journey by recreating the world of Archies on-board and by flying them to Riverdale; thereby offering a chance to bring a dream destination alive, one that was set up at the Manohar international Airport, Goa! The celebration onboard was marked by retro-themed décor in line with the film’s aesthetics, specially curated meals and beverages reminiscent of Pop Tate's, customised Vistara and Netflix giveaways, and a chance for the passengers to travel with their favourite characters from The Archies.

The cast of The Archies, accompanied by the renowned directors Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti participated in this experience onboard UK 1964. The cast was present in character to give an authentic touch to the experience and included Suhana Khan as Veronica Lodge, Khushi Kapoor as Betty Cooper, Agastya Nanda as Archie Andrews, Aditi Saigal as Ethel Muggs, Vedang Raina as Reggie Mantle, Mihir Ahuja as Jughead Jones, and Yuvraj Menda as Dilton Doiley. While the Archies soundtrack played as part of the boarding and landing music, our in-flight entertainment system Vistara World showcased exclusive behind-the-scenes glimpses into the making of The Archies, enhancing the overall experience.

Speaking on this unique collaboration, Deepti Sampat, Vice President – Marketing, Vistara said, “We are delighted to be the first Indian airline to partner with Netflix to curate a journey down memory lane with our special 'Flight to Riverdale'. Vistara Retrojet, with its nostalgic charm, not only transports us back to a golden era but also propels us into a future where the boundaries between cinema and air travel seamlessly merge, offering passengers an experience that transcends the ordinary. UK 1964 will surely leave a permanent trail of enduring memories while also evoking nostalgia.”

Commenting on the partnership, Shilpa Singh, Senior Director, Marketing Partnerships - APAC, at Netflix added, "The Archies celebrates all things food, fashion and music from the 1960s. UK 1964, Vistara’s Retrojet ‘Flight to Riverdale’ is a unique and immersive experience curated to transport the passengers back in time, all while enjoying the company of the cast and crew. This special collaboration will carry the participants into the world of The Archies before it launches on Netflix.”

Upon touching down in Goa, the celebrations continued with the arrival hall having been transformed into a mini-Riverdale adorned with retro-themed props and backdrops from the film. A lively flash mob, featuring the cast, a dance troupe, and the Vistara crew ensured a memorable welcome for all.

Vistara is India’s highest-rated airline on Skytrax and TripAdvisor, and it has been the winner of several ‘Best Airline’ awards, besides being lauded for world-class cabin cleanliness and upholding high safety standards. The only Indian carrier to feature amongst World’s Top 20 Airlines, Vistara has been named ‘16th Best Airline’ globally while also being recognised as the ‘Best Airline in India and South Asia’ for the third time in a row, ‘Best Airline Staff in India and South Asia’ for the fifth consecutive year, ‘Best Cabin Crew in India and South Asia’ for the third time in a row and ‘Best Business Class Airline in India and South Asia’ for the second time in a row at the coveted World Airline Awards 2023 by Skytrax. Vistara also received the ch-aviation Asia’s Third Youngest Airline Fleet award for the second consecutive year. 

About Vistara (TATA SIA Airlines Limited): TATA SIA Airlines Limited, known by the brand name Vistara, is a 51:49 joint venture between Tata Sons Private Limited and Singapore Airlines Limited (SIA). Vistara brings together Tata’s and SIA’s legendary hospitality and renowned service excellence to offer the finest full-service flying experience in India. Vistara commenced its commercial operations on January 9, 2015, with an aim to set new standards in the aviation industry in India and it today connects destinations across India and abroad. The airline currently, has a fleet of 63 aircraft, including 48 Airbus A320neo, 10 Airbus A321 and 5 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and has flown more than 50 million customers since starting operations.

For more information about Vistara, visit www.airvistara.com

Toyota Kirloskar Motor Clinches Two Prestigious EEPC India National Export Awards

Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) takes pride in announcing that it has been honored with two National Awards for Export Excellence at the 52nd and 53rd editions of the Awards event held on Tuesday, November 21st, 2023, in New Delhi. These coveted awards were presented to TKM in recognition of its outstanding export performance in the engineering sector. The award is a testament to the company's commitment to export excellence and contribution to the economy of the state and the nation.

The awards ceremony was organized by Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC) of India, to showcase and celebrate excellence in engineering exports and was graced by Shri Manoj Sinha, Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir. Shri Arun Velayudhan, Vice President - Finance, Indirect Taxation & Impex Division of TKM, received the awards on behalf of the company.

TKM was lauded for its exemplary performance in the export domain and received the ‘Special Trophy for Excellence in Exports of MEIS Items 2015-20, Large Enterprise’, and the ‘Star Performer Award for the Year 2020-21 in the product group of Engines, turbines, and parts – Large Enterprise category.

Speaking on this recognition, Mr. Swapnesh R. Maru, Executive Vice President, and Chief Compliance Officer at Toyota Kirloskar Motor said, “We are delighted and honored to receive the Export Excellence awards from the esteemed Engineering Export Promotion Council of India. This recognition is a source of immense pride and joy for the organization. It is a testament of our unwavering commitment to excellence and Innovation. These awards reinforce our belief that quality and customer satisfaction are key drivers of success in this highly competitive market.”

Recently TKM had also been bestowed with the esteemed Export Excellence Award at the FKCCI Star Exports Awards 2023 organized by the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce & Industry ( FKCCI ).

Uber Rolls Out Rewards Program For Drivers In 12 Cities Across India

Uber has launched ‘Uber Pro’ - a rewards program inspired by drivers and designed to help them reach their goals - both on and off the road. Uber Pro provides drivers with new ways to earn, more options and support, and deeper discounts on what keeps them moving. It has been launched with exciting rewards, perks, and exclusive features across 12 Indian cities. By rewarding drivers with good customer rating (above 4.8) and low trip cancellations, this program aims to elevate overall platform experience by making every trip magical for riders and drivers alike.

Commenting on the launch of Uber Pro in India, Shiva Shailendran, Director - Operations, Uber India & South Asia, said, “Drivers are at the heart of what we do at Uber. We are committed to providing a great ride experience for a rider and driver each time they choose Uber. Uber Pro rewards drivers who provide a great service to riders by maintaining a high app rating and low trip cancellations. It will go a long way in promoting the adaptation and continued use of the Uber platform by top-rated drivers who have made us #IndiaKiRide over the last 10 years, and will improve the overall experience on the Uber app.”

Uber Pro has four tiers: Blue, Gold, Platinum and Diamond, with Diamond being the highest possible tier. A driver who is new on the platform starts with a Blue tier status and moves upwards by earning ‘points’ on every completed trip and meeting other criteria. The points reset every 3 months, so the drivers' tier status is determined on a rolling period of 3 months. As drivers move towards a higher tier status, they get access to exclusive perks and experiential rewards offered by third parties, such as discounted vehicle maintenance and motor insurance, and microcredit offerings etc.

Uber Pro benefits

Drivers who were able to maintain the top rating ‘Diamond’ for a full quarter were given a cash reward of INR 10,000/-. Top-tier drivers from Diamond and Platinum tiers also got access to exclusive experiential rewards including those mentioned below.

Area Preference: For two hours every day, drivers were able to choose to get trips from an area of their choice. This gave them flexibility to drive in their preferred area.

Priority support: In case they needed support, these drivers could skip the queue at Uber greenlight centers and received special attention from top support agents on priority.

Automatic Premier Eligibility: Eligible drivers also got upgraded to get ‘Premier’ trips on the Uber app. With a combination of Go and Premier trips, drivers not only had a chance to receive more trip requests, but also received more high-value trip requests with Premier.

Along with drivers in Platinum and Diamond tiers, Gold tier drivers also received a 30% extra discount vs. market price on Castrol vehicle PMS. Drivers from all tiers were eligible to access differential enhanced microcredit limits (up to INR 20k, INR 15k, INR 10k, and INR 8k, for Diamond, Platinum, Gold, and Blue tiers respectively). These microcredits are cash

credits provided by a third-party, facilitated by Uber, that help drivers achieve life goals such as supporting their children’s education or contributing to house expenses, etc. All Uber Pro drivers were also eligible for discounted premiums for Life, Health, and Motor insurance.

Riders will be able to see the tier status of a driver on booking an Uber and drivers will be able to track their progress on the Uber app. The program is currently live in 12 cities including Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Pune, Hyderabad, Delhi NCR, Kolkata, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Guwahati and Jaipur. Uber plans to roll this out to more cities in the near future.

Disclaimer: Rewards vary by location and Uber Pro status of the driver, and are subject to change. Rewards described here may not be available in all cities where Uber Pro is available. Additional limitations and exclusions apply. See terms and conditions for complete details.

About Uber

We rode into India in 2013 with a simple promise: press a button, get a ride. 10 years and over 3 billion trips later, we continue to build products to help people get where they need to be. Today, Uber is available across 125 cities in India and has become #IndiaKiRide where people can go where they have to on Moto, Auto, Cars and even Buses - designed for their various intracity and intercity travel needs. With just a swipe on the app we make mobility seamless for millions and have helped over 800,000 Indians earn a sustainable income by getting in the driver's seat. We continue to reimagine the way the world moves for the better in ever expanding ways and as we mark our ten year milestone - we remain committed to keep India Moving Forward.

Flagging Off EVs Supported By SIDBI For Delivering Services In NCR Under The 50KEV4ECO Program

* Shri Vivek Joshi and Shri SCL Das handing over sanctioned letters to 08 Startups/MSMEs

* Extension of support under SIDBI’s digital journey, 4E Scheme, Speed, and Venture Debt

* Cumulative sanction of Rs. 57 Crore to Startups/MSMEs/NBFCs

SIDBI, organised an Outreach programme "MSME & Start-Up Stakeholder Consultation Meet" on November 21, 2023, at Gurugram, Haryana. The program witnessed participation of more than 350+ Startups / MSMEs / Lead industry Association / Rating agencies and other enablers serving the MSME ecosystem. The objective was to obtain inputs on enhancing the outreach and effectiveness of service as also pick the aspirations of the sector and their preparedness towards New Bharat. An exhibition was also organized wherein startups, MSMEs, e-mobility OEMs and aggregators including SIDBI’s digital offering were displayed and explained to the visitors. The participants appreciated their exposure to EV as a preferred option as also could widen their outlook towards innovative offerings from MSMEs. SIDBI gave live demonstration on “Express Loan” product wherein SIDBI has brought down the TAT from months to minutes.

Shri Vivek Joshi (IAS), Secretary, DFS, Ministry of Finance was the Chief Guest and Shri Subhas Chandra Lal Das (IAS), Secretary, Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises was Guest of Honour.

The event commenced with Manthan session wherein Lead Industry Associations shared their perspectives to ease access to credit and non-financial services by MSMEs. Associations recounted the exemplary service of SIDBI especially the turnaround in last few years in terms of responsiveness, embracing digitization (leading to reduced TAT) and minimizing procedures and processes thus enabling entry of last mile into SIDBI folds. Shri Rajive Chawla, Shri Rakesh Chhabra, and Shri J P Malhotra represented the MSME voice.

The dignitaries raised the happiness quotient of participants by flagging off EVs supported by SIDBI for delivering services in NCR under its 50KEV4ECO program. Shri Vivek Joshi and Shri SCL Das handed over sanctioned letter to 08 Startups/MSMEs extending support under SIDBI’s digital journey, 4E Scheme, Speed and Venture Debt. Under 50KEV4ECO program, sanction letter was handed over to electric mobility as a service provider as also disbursement cheque was handed over to “cKers Finance” to support acquisition of commercial EVs at competitive rate to create the market.

Cumulative sanction of Rs. 57 Crore was handed over to the Startups / MSMEs / NBFCs on the occasion.

Shri Nishant Kumar Yadav, Dy. Commissioner, Gurugram addressed the gathering and assured the continuity of the support from State authorities. Shri Yadav mentioned that the enterprising people of Gurugram have established their mettle in different sectors and the momentum should continue.

Shri Sivasubramanian Ramann, CMD, SIDBI said that the presence of Secretary, DFS and Secretary, MoMSME reflects government’s commitment to strengthen MSMEs, the second largest contributor to the country’s economy and employment. Shri Ramann mentioned that our thrust has been on “Digitization” and “Greening the Enterprise Ecosystem”. SIDBI has been assessing the demand supply side gap and have provisioned for financial and non-financial services to address these. Shri Ramann mentioned that SIDBI values the feedback and inputs of Industry Associations which helps to become more responsive. Shri Ramann mentioned that SIDBI has been working on digitizing the registration of MSMEs, access to finance by them as also leveraging GST data for democratizing credit access. Shri Ramann mentioned that in line with expectation of GoI that SIDBI should evolve as largest direct lender to MSMEs, SIDBI has strategized, the ABC approach. It includes App based, Branch based and Co-partners based lending.

Shri S.C.L Das, Secretary, Ministry of MSME stated that the ministry is committed to create a strong and enabling ecosystem for MSME to grow and flourish. Shri Das emphasized on innovative offerings of ministry woven around growth with sustainability. Shri Das highlighted the increased coordination among different ministries for effective implementation of Central schemes such as PM Vishwakarma.  Shri Das also mentioned that Ministry is geared up to introduce new schemes to catalyse green investment and contribute to National Determined Contributions (NDCs) of India. Shri Das appreciated the increasing contribution of SIDBI and suggested called upon that Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) aspects need to be embedded and mainstreamed in entire enterprise lending.

Shri Vivek Joshi, Secretary, Ministry of Finance, advocated the significance of MSME sector in the Indian Economy and reaffirmed government’s commitment towards Development & Growth of MSME sector. Shri Joshi also acknowledged the instrumental role played by SIDBI in strengthening the credit flow to MSMEs particularly through digitization, credit guarantee, channelizing ECLGS (as a COVID relief). Shri Joshi also highlighted the thrust of Government of India on reaching the last mile through banking and digital tools. Shri Joshi also recounted how banks have been proactively engaged for reaching Street Vendors under PMSVANidhi and also PMVishwakarma to provide End to End holistic support to Artisans. Shri Joshi appreciated the exhibition which reflects increasing orientation and demand towards net zero journey of the country. Shri Joshi called upon entrepreneurs to avail services such as Express Loan by SIDBI, look at e mobility as preferred mode of transport, etc. While appreciating SIDBI’s role, Shri Joshi laid expectations for tripling SIDBI’s footprints. MoMSME and DFS would continue to extend whole-hearted support to boost the MSME ecosystem particularly those at bottom of pyramid.

About Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI):

SIDBI, set up on 2nd April 1990 under an Act of Indian Parliament, is the Principal Financial Institution for Promotion, Financing and Development of the MSME sector. SIDBI has been playing a significant role in developing the financial services for MSME sector through various interventions including Refinance to Banks, Credit Guarantee programs, Development of the MFI sector, Contribution to Venture capital/AIF funds, MSME ratings, promoting digital lending ecosystem, etc. The Bank has proactively been working towards Energy Efficiency (EE) in MSMEs since 2005-06 using support of multilateral institutions like World Bank, ADB, GiZ, FCDO, JICA, AFD, KfW etc. for energy efficient projects. Furthermore, SIDBI has been touching the lives of citizens across various strata of society through its integrated, innovative, and inclusive approach. Be it traditional, domestic small entrepreneurs, bottom-of-the-pyramid entrepreneurs, to high-end knowledge-based entrepreneurs, SIDBI has directly or indirectly impacted the lives of Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) through various credit and developmental measures.

To know more, check out: https://www.sidbi.in

Johnson Controls Outlines New Blueprint For India’s Net Zero Future

* Johnson Controls Launches Its Whitepaper Titled “Tech For Green India - Mission Net Zero” At The 21st Edition Of India Green Building Congress 2023

* Details the role of green buildings and technology in India’s vision for decarbonisation, and key challenges and opportunities facing the industry today. 

Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI), the global leader for smart, healthy, and sustainable buildings, today launched a whitepaper titled “Tech for Green India - Mission Net Zero” at the 21st edition of Green Building Congress 2023, India’s flagship conference and expo on the green built environment. 

“Buildings contribute nearly 40% of global emissions and at Johnson Controls, our priority is to help make buildings more sustainable and energy efficient, providing solutions that meet the specific needs of each building. We believe a holistic and collaborative approach will enable the nation to realise its full potential effectively,” said Anu Rathninde, president, Asia Pacific, Johnson Controls. “This white paper aligns with our vision for sustainability, and we are committed to continuous innovation and collaboration with our ecosystem partners, in the journey to a decarbonised future.”

The launch was presided over by Mr. Rathninde and Mr. Arun Awasthy, president & managing director, Johnson Controls India. 

In response to the climate crisis, nations across the world have accelerated their efforts towards achieving net zero emissions and have set targets in alignment with their developmental needs. India, the third largest energy consumer in the world, established a target of meeting net zero emissions by 2070. In the collective efforts towards achieving these goals, the whitepaper details the role of technology in transforming buildings and urban spaces. The whitepaper explores the multiple challenges facing the Indian green building industry today, and provides a framework within which these challenges can begin to be addressed. A comprehensive strategy is imperative along this journey:

Increasing Awareness & Adoption: Comprehensive information campaigns are an effective tool to educate both professionals in the sector as well as citizens. Also important is incorporating sustainability and green building modules into academic curricula, creating a pool of energy experts and offering life-cycle costing training to emphasise long-term financial gains. Meanwhile, strengthening the incentive framework around green building projects in terms of low-interest loans, additional construction area, discounted property taxes, and worker skilling would be hugely beneficial to the sector. 

Enhancing Standardisation: Consolidating a set of consistent green building standards into one or two legally binding certifications will bring more effectiveness, and these standardised certifications need to be aggressively promoted across various channels, to promote adoption. Also there is a call for consistent evaluation matrices, for accurate and consistent performance assessment.

Optimizing the Use of Data & Technology: The whitepaper suggests leveraging India's PM Gati Shakti Platform to consolidate information on green buildings, fostering a network and an information dashboard for more effective use of green building technology. Also, establishing sustainability indices becomes essential while assessing the sustainability and performance of a city or locality in comparison to its counterparts in different regions, which should be adjusted to factor in the developmental and climactic realities of the region. Leveraging technology, such as smart controls and IoT, along with innovative materials and behavioural changes in residents, can create smart, energy-efficient, and resilient buildings. 

“India is at the cusp of making some great breakthroughs in the Green Building sector. We are at a point that demands immediate action and collaboration. It is heartening to see that there is a strong willingness among stakeholders in the public and private sector to collaborate on a framework that accelerates India’s green building adoption. At Johnson Controls India, we look forward to being at the forefront of this reform,” said Mr. Awasthy.

Johnson Controls, an industry leader in providing cutting edge building technologies for nearly 140 years, improved building performance across multiple industries. In India, its work spans both public and private enterprises, across industries like transportation, information technology, health care, hospitality, manufacturing and industry parks. With its integrated building technologies including high-efficient chillers, heat pumps, building management systems, and OpenBlue digital solutions, Johnson Controls has helped customers in India significantly reduce energy cost and cut carbon emissions, making due contributions to the country’s drive for a green future. 

Goldmedal Electricals Introduces Powerful Air Purification Solution With Oxyrich Air Purifying Bladeless Fan At MRP Of Rs. 35,999

* Experience Clean Air and Comfort with Goldmedal Electricals Innovative Air Purifying Bladeless Fan!

Goldmedal Electricals, one of India's leading Fast Moving Electrical Goods (FMEG) brand, introduced the Oxyrich Air Purifying Bladeless Fan. This fan offers a unique experience, combining advanced technology with modern design to enhance your living environment and well-being. It not only purifies the air but also cools your space, ensuring a cleaner, healthier, and more comfortable environment.

At a time of severe air pollution and deteriorating air quality that’s afflicting many cities across India, air purification has become essential to safeguard people’s health. The new Oxyrich Air Purifying Bladeless Fan is a powerful air purifier solution that displays real time air quality in the room and the fan can be controlled through a magnetic remote control and a LED touch panel. Goldmedal Electricals’ dedication to quality and innovation shines through in the new sleek and safe bladeless design, making it a must-have for those who want style, comfort, and health.

Commenting on the Oxyrich Air Purifying Bladeless fan, Bishan Jain, Director, Goldmedal Electricals, said, “At Goldmedal Electricals, we focus on creating innovative fans that improve the comfort and well-being. Our advanced Oxyrich Air Purifying Bladeless Fan purifies and cools your living space which is the need of the hour amidst rising air pollution levels across India. It's easy to control with a magnetic remote and a simple LED touch panel. Plus, it has ambient lighting and can be tilted up to 15 degrees, making it a versatile and efficient addition to any room for the best air quality and comfort.”

Other features of Oxyrich Air Purifying Bladeless fan include:

Fan Type: A Bladeless Fan with purifying technology is an innovative cooling device designed to provide a refreshing airflow without traditional fan blades, making it safer and easier to clean

Remote Control: The sleek magnetic remote is a user-friendly device that complements the fan's modern design. Its stylish, minimalist appearance and magnetic feature make it easy to store and access whenever you need to adjust the fan's settings

Control Panel: The fan's LED touch control panel is user-friendly for easy operation

Oscillation Angles: The fan offers a range of oscillation angles, including 30, 60, 90, and 120 degrees, allowing you to customize the airflow direction to suit your preferences and the layout of your space

Modes: The fan comes equipped with various operating modes, each designed to cater to different cooling and comfort needs

Light: The fan incorporates a large ambient light source, which not only adds to the fan's aesthetic appeal but also enhances the ambiance of your space

Off Timer: The fan offers a programmable off timer feature that allows you to set a specific time duration for the fan to operate before automatically turning off

Tilt Angle: The fan's adjustable tilt angle feature enables you to direct the airflow according to your preferences. With the capability to tilt up to 15 degrees, you can control the vertical orientation of the fan head

This product is available online as well as in retail stores at MRP of Rs. 35,999/-. The Oxyrich Air Purifying Bladeless Fan comes with a warranty of two years.

About Goldmedal Electricals

Goldmedal Electricals is a home-grown electrical company which was established in the year 1979 with a vision to create electrical switches and accessories that make a positive difference to the lives of consumers. The company is known in the industry for manufacturing high quality wiring devices and introducing a host of innovations in the industry. The company has manufacturing units in Vasai outside Mumbai, Bhiwadi in Rajasthan, and Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh. It is one of the few companies in the industry to have a completely in-house, state-of-the-art tool room and testing facility. Today, the company manufactures a vast range of electrical products including various types of Switches, Home automation systems, LEDs, Fans, Security Systems, Entertainment devices, Doorbells, Wires, Cables, DBs and more for residential buildings as well as commercial establishments.

Revvity Joins India’s Fight Against Tuberculosis (TB) By Launching Its T-SPOT.TB For Latent TB Screening In India

* The T-SPOT.TB test will be officially launched in India during the 46th Edition of MICROCON in Lucknow.

* Tuberculosis remains a major health issue in India, causing nearly two deaths every three minutes and affecting 2.6 million Indian people annually (WHO).[i]

* Identifying individuals with latent TB who are at risk of developing active (infectious) TB and treating them is a crucial component of the disease elimination.[i]

Revvity, a global company that leverages innovation in Diagnostics and Life Sciences, with a strong presence in India, today announced the country launch of its T-SPOT®.TB test for latent TB screening, at MICROCON in Lucknow.

Revvity’s T-SPOT®.TB is the only FDA-approved, commercially available IGRA (interferon gamma release assay) based on the ELISPOT technology. This technology includes the isolation, washing and counting of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from whole blood to standardize the test and provide reproducible results for reliable detection -- even in challenging-to-screen groups, such as the immunosuppressed[i].

Shripad Joshi, President, India & South Asia at Revvity said: “With approximately 40% of the Indian population being infected with latent TB, detecting the infection before it progresses to active disease, which is symptomatic and infectious, is paramount. We recognize the critical role that collaboration between the public and private sectors plays in the Government’s mission of eradicating TB by 2025. As a result, we are committed to working closely with the Indian healthcare sector to integrate our reliable, single visit T-SPOT®.TB test into the country’s existing healthcare infrastructure, increasing accessibility and affordability of latent TB screening.

“We have 20 years’ experience in TB screening and have been collaborating with several healthcare systems around the world. We are now thrilled to be able to start equipping healthcare professionals in India with advanced screening tools that can support the Government’s mission effectively, decreasing costs associated with treating active or drug-resistant TB, and more importantly, saving lives.”

Revvity T-SPOT®.TB test

Based on the ELISPOT technology, the T-SPOT®.TB test is the only WHO recommended IGRA that uses a standardized sample, reducing the influence of factors in the blood which may affect performance and normalizing for cell number variation. The WHO diagnostic guidelines acknowledge the benefits of the normalization step prior to cell stimulation required in the T-SPOT®.TB test.[i] Normalizing the T-cell count before cell stimulation can help obtain accurate results in populations with weakened immune systems.[i] In addition, the T-SPOT®.TB test does not cross-react with the BCG vaccine[i], which is commonly used in India.

The T-SPOT®.TB test is one of the three IGRAs that are recommended by WHO as alternatives to the tuberculin skin test (TST) or the Mantoux test for the detection of TB infection. The T-SPOT®.TB test is available in over 50 countries including in Europe, China, Japan, and the US, and is in the list of in-vitro diagnostics (IVDs) recommended by WHO for use in countries to improve access to IVD testing and advance universal health coverage.[i]

Automation of the T-SPOT®.TB test is possible using the T-Cell Select TM reagent kit, and automated platforms are available for low, medium, and high throughput settings. The use of the T-Cell SelectTM reagent kit in the automated workflow allows for the blood samples to be transported and stored at ambient temperature for up to 54 hours prior to processing, improving sample collection logistics.

Launch of T-SPOT®.TB at MICROCON 2023

Revvity is launching its ELISPOT-based IGRA T-SPOT®.TB at the 46th Edition of MICROCON held at King George’s Medical University in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Celebrating excellence in Clinical Microbiology, MICROCON congregates renowned international and national experts and attendees who are set to discuss and gain valuable insight into cutting-edge developments in the fields of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. Dr. Amita Jain and Dr. Surya Kant will act as the honorable chief guests during the launch event of Revvity T-SPOT®.TB at the Congress.

Dr. Surya Kant, Professor and Head of Department of Respiratory Medicine at King George's Medical University, and Chairman, North Zone Task Force of National TB Elimination Program, commented: “Our country has made notable progress in both active and latent TB testing, fostering optimism around the attainment of the Government’s goal of eradicating TB by 2030. It's important to highlight that despite the existence of a few solutions for latent tuberculosis screening, Government organizations are actively involved in advancing innovative and effective screening tools other than the traditional TST. Early detection through widespread testing, coupled with appropriate medical intervention, can prevent the progression of latent TB into its active and more contagious form."

Dr. Amita Jain, Professor and Head of Department of Microbiology at King George's Medical University, and Organizing Chairperson at MICROCON, added: “The very high percentage of the Indian population infected with latent TB emphasizes the growing national importance of screening to prevent community transmission and achieve India’s TB eradication mission. High-risk groups, including immunocompromised individuals, expectant mothers, and pediatric patients are significantly impacted. We celebrate the launch of tests that promise reliable latent TB detection, even in groups that are difficult to screen due to their weakened immune systems.”

Revvity is introducing the T-SPOT®.TB test during the 46th edition of MICROCON in Lucknow, at stand number 13.

About Revvity

At Revvity, “impossible” is inspiration, and “can’t be done” is a call to action. Revvity provides health science solutions, technologies, expertise, and services that deliver complete workflows from discovery to development, and diagnosis to cure. Revvity is revolutionizing what’s possible in healthcare, with specialized focus areas in translational multi-omics technologies, biomarker identification, imaging, prediction, screening, detection and diagnosis, informatics and more. 

With 2022 revenue of more than $3 billion and over 11,000 employees, Revvity serves customers across pharmaceutical and biotech, diagnostic labs, academia and governments. It is part of the S&P 500 index and has customers in more than 190 countries.