Gonosasthaya Kendra developing affordable coronavirus detection kit
A team of Gonoshasthaya-RNA Biotech Limited, a concern of Gonoshasthaya Kendra, has been developing a kit to detect the novel coronavirus at an affordable price.
Issuing a press release yesterday, the team said they are ready to go in production "in a month" if the government approves.
They hoped to produce the kit at a cost of Tk 200, and people will be able to diagnose the virus with it for Tk 300.
The team consists Bijon Kumar Sil, the lead researcher; Nihad Adnan, Raeed Jamiruddin and Firoz Ahmed. Bijon was among the researchers who developed a kit to diagnose SARS in 2003, said the press release.
Talking to the newspaper, Nihad Adnan said they are at development stage, and are preparing a prototype of the kit.
"We have the formula, and we are ready to develop the kit. If the government approves, we will go in production and start a trial," said Nihad.
In the press release, Gonoshasthaya said a high-level skilled team of Gonoshasthaya-RNA Biotech Limited has started working to design and develop the process of production of the kit since February.
"We applied for an approval from Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA). With their permission, we will be ready for production in one month," reads the press release.
"We hope to produce the diagnostic kit at a cost of Tk 200. The govt should take regulatory measures so that the people can do the test within Tk 300," it added.
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