Indias first! Mobile lab for Covid-19 sample collection is here - All you need to know

Finally, Mobile BSL-3 VDRL Lab for Covid-19 Sample Collection is a reality now. The first COVID-19 sample collection mobile Lab of the country namely “Mobile BSL-3 VRDL Lab” has been dedicated to the nation by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh through video conference.

This Lab has been developed by Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), Ministry of Defence, Govt. of India  in collaboration with ESIC Medical College & Hospital, Sanathnagar (Hyderabad) with due permission of  Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Govt. of Telangana.

Speaking on the occasion, Rajnath Singh appreciated the efforts of DRDO and ESIC in 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 further said this testing facility can process more than 1,000 samples in a day and will enhance country’s capabilities in fighting COVID-19.

“Mobile BSL-3 VRDL Lab”: What you should know

-COVID-19 testing centre at ESIC Medical & Hospital, Sanathnagar, Hyderabad will utilize this new innovative mobile diagnostic and research facility called “Mobile BSL-3 VRDL Lab”.

- It will be first of its kind facility in the country for Covid-19 and other related testing and research purposes.

- The design of Mobile BSL-3 VRDL Lab has been developed by DRDO scientists whereas specification of the lab has been given by ESIC Medical College & Hospital, Sanathnagar, Hyderabad.

- The project has been executed and constructed by three industry partners of DRDO.

Meanwhile, it was reported that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with chief ministers via video conferencing on April 27 morning on the way ahead in the fight against coronavirus. This will be the third video conference of the prime minister with the chief ministers after the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. In the last interaction on April 11, several chief ministers had recommended extension of the 21-day lockdown by two weeks, which was slated to end on April 14 earlier.

On April 14, the prime minister announced that the lockdown is being extended till May 3. Before the lockdown was announced on March 24, Modi had interacted with the chief ministers on March 20 to discuss ways and means to check the spread of coronavirus.