Milk sales are constantly growing throughout India, but almost 70% of milk is still traded through informal channels where quality controls are minimal. One of the largest challenges facing the dairy industry is mastitis – the mammary gland infection in milk animals. For decades, the sector has been suffering and causing visible and hidden losses.
The worst affected are small and marginal farmers who own 60% female cattle and buffalo in the ground, with their livelihood often hanging in balance. According to government estimates, Vereci infection in the milk sector is 6 053.21 Crore per year, with subclinical mastitis representing up to 80% of these losses. It is complicated is traditional tests that mastitis is either insensitive in early stages or too expensive for routine use in the field.
Now scientists from the National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NIAB) in Hyderabad have revealed the Quantm-Thorough Cheap Equipment that can detect somatic cells in the milk on site. The high number of somatic cells indicates microbial contamination and reduced nutritional quality, which represents risks especially for children and vulnerable populations.
Quick SCC monitoring at field level (number of somatic cells) can increase milk safety, prolong life and restore consumers’ confidence, scientists said. “QuantM is filling out this gap. It is affordable, fast and accurately detects SCC – a global gold standard for the quality of milk and health – directly at the farm,” said the leading researcher and scientist Pankaj Suman.
How FUNTM works
QuantM uses positively charged iron oxide nanoparticles that bind to negatively charged somatic cells in milk. The superficial substance helps to aggregate these cells. The integrated optical system captures cluster images and the built -in algorithm analyzes data and delivers read “SCC”.
“QuantM can only detect 0.017 million cells per ml – comparable to flow cytometry, but in a fraction of costs,” said the innovator and scientist Yathirajaroo Tammineni. The results are available within 10 minutes and each test costs less than 10 GBP, which is accessible for the smallest dairy operations.
What makes innovation even stronger is its integration with the rapid antimicrobial sensitivity of Niab – Curecheck. Together they can confirm both the presence of mastitis and the most effective treatment within two hours – a process that usually lasts two to three days in conventional laboratories.
With each combined test cost below 70 GBP and price at a price of around 15,000 GBP, scientists say QuantM could be a game converter for Indian small milk farmers, help them reduce losses, reduce antibiotic abuse and supply better milk to consumers.
“This method is the main breakthrough for farmers and consumers. It promises safer milk for every household, supports national efforts against antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and increases the social-economic position of millions of millions of small and marginal dairy farmers,” Suman. “Early detection of microbial contamination means fewer unnecessary antibiotics, which helps to slow down the spread of AMR, which can move from animals to humans,” he added.
Global health challenge
This is especially urgent because India and the world are struggling with growing AMR – the threat that the World Health Organization (WHO) has identified as one of the best global health problems. Last month, the Minister of the Union (independent fee) for science and technology Jitender Singh formally launched Quantm and related technologies during his NIAB visit.
Niab also worked with ACS NeoTeric Technologies for commercial expansion and ensured that the device reached farmers, cooperatives and milk collection centers across the country. “This device reflects NIAB mission to provide affordable biotechnological solutions for animal health and food safety. QuantM not only ensures safer milk for every household, but also contributes to national efforts against antimicrobial resistance,” the scientists said.
Published – 26 September 2025 22:57 is
