Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has developed a bio suit for medical professionals that could protect them from COVID-19.

This special suit has been made using a special sealant used in submarine application as an alternative to seam sealing tape.

DRDO mentions that the use of submarine sealant is required, as the bio suit production in India is being hampered due to lack of seam sealing tapes.

The bio suits made using the glue have passed test at Southern India Textile Research Association (SITRA) Coimbatore, India. A spokesperson from DRDO further mentions that “This can be a game changer for the industry. The DRDO can mass produce this glue through industry to support the seam sealing activity by suit manufacturer.”

DRDO claims that the suit has been manufactured with the help of industry professionals and has undergone several tests for its effectiveness against textile parameters and protection against synthetic blood. The protection against synthetic blood makes it fully reliable as this feature exceeds the criteria set for body suits by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).

“M/s Kusumgarh Industries is producing raw material, coating material with the complete suit being manufactured with the help of another vendor,” mentions DRDO. These units can produce 7,000 suits per day; however; another vendor is being bought up with garment technology expertise in an effort to increase the daily production numbers to 15,000 suits per day.

Currently, there is a huge shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline workers especially the doctors. As per the report by Reuters, due to the shortage of PPE the healthcare professionals are using raincoats and helmets as protective gears. Recently, junior doctors in Kolkata were given plastic raincoat to examine the infected patients.

The development by DRDO could be the possible solution to encounter the current crisis of lack of protective gears in the country.