Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today inaugurated a Mobile Virology Research and Diagnostics Laboratory (MVRDL) through video conference to test COVID-19 samples. It has been developed by Defence Research and Development Organization- DRDO in association with ESIC Hospital, Hyderabad and Private industry.
Speaking on this occasion, Mr Singh said, the government has taken several timely decisions because of which the spread of COVID-19 in the country is far less compared to many other countries. He appreciated the setting up of this Bio-Safety Level 2 and Level 3 lab in a record time of 15 days which usually takes about six months time. He said, this testing facility which can process more than 1,000 samples in a day, will enhance country’s capabilities in fighting COVID-19. The Minister said, the country’s Armed Forces are contributing in many ways such as setting up of quarantine centres, providing healthcare facilities, evacuating Indian Nationals from other countries to fight COVID-19 and these efforts will continue.
The Mobile Viral Research Lab is the combination of a BSL 3 lab and a BSL 2 lab essential to carry out the activities. The labs are built as per WHO and ICMR Bio-safety standards to meet international guidelines. The Mobile Lab will be helpful to carry out diagnosis of COVID-19 and also virus culturing for drug screening, and comprehensive immune profiling of COVID-19 patients towards vaccine development. This lab can be positioned anywhere in the country, as per requirement.
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