Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the much-awaited ‘high-throughput’ coronavirus testing facilities at three major cities – Noida, Mumbai and Kolkata – at the Indian Centre of Medical Research (ICMR) event via video-conferencing.
The virtual event was also joined by the Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, along with Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray along with Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan.
“These three high-throughput testing facilities have been set up strategically at ICMR-National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research, Noida; ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, Mumbai; and ICMR-National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, Kolkata, and will be able to test over 10,000 samples in a day,” the PMO stated in a release.
‘High-throughput’ method of research relates to the mass-availability with the help of automation, miniaturized assays, and large-scale data analysis.
As a result, these new COVID-19 facilities set-up at various ICMR labs are expected to help in strengthening early detection and treatment of the deadly infection, thus assisting in putting an end to the spread of the pandemic.
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is one of the oldest medical research bodies in the world. The council mainly helps in coordinating and promoting biomedical research in the country. It is currently majorly helping with COVID-19 tests across the country on a daily basis.
The ICMR along with Bharat Biotech has also developed a COVID-19 vaccine candidate COVAXIN, which is undergoing its first phase of human trials.
