In order to hasten the process of testing patients for coronavirus, the Defence Research and Development Organisation(DRDO) has successfully manufactured mobile virology research and diagnostics laboratory(MVRDL). It can process more than 1,000 samples thereby enhancing the overall capability of the national effort to fight the pandemic. The DRDO is already manufacturing and supplying sanitisers and masks to various agencies engaged in tackling the disease.
Unveiling the mobile laboratory through video-conference here on Thursday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh while lauding the efforts of the DRDO said the setting up of this bio-safety level two and level three laboratory came about in 15 to 20 days as against the normal time of six months.
The first of such Mobile Viral Research Lab (MVRL), that will speed up COVID-19 screening and related R&D activities, was developed by Research Centre Imarat (RCI), the Hyderabad based laboratory of DRDO in consultation with ESIC Hospital, Hyderabad and private firms, officials said here.
The Mobile Viral Research Laboratory is the combination of a level three and level two laboratory essential to carry out the activities. The laboratories are built as per World Health Organisation(WHO) and the Indian Council of Medical Research(ICMR)bio-safety standards to meet international guidelines. The system has built in electrical controls, LAN, Telephone cabling, and CCTV.
The Mobile Laboratory will be helpful to carry out diagnosis of COVID-19 and also virus culturing for drug screening, convalescent plasma derived therapy, comprehensive immune profiling of COVID-19 patients towards vaccine development early clinical trials specific to Indian population. The laboratory screens 1000-2000 samples per day. This laboratory can be positioned anywhere in the country, as per requirement.
Speaking on the occasion, the defence minister 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 said our Armed Forces are contributing in many ways - such as setting up of quarantine centres, providing healthcare facilities and evacuating Indian nationals from other countries to fight COVID19 and these efforts will continue.
The function was also attended by Minister of State for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy, Minister of State for Labour and Employment Santosh Kumar Gangwar, KT Rama Rao Minister for IT Industries K T Rama Rao and Minister of Labour Ch Malla Reddy(both from Telangana government)and Dr G Satheesh Reddy, chief of DRDO.