New Delhi: The DRDO today launched a mobile laboratory named Mobile Virology Research and Diagnostics Laboratory (MVRDL) in Hyderabad.
The first-of-its-kind laboratory aims at speeding up Coronavirus screening and research and development activities.
The laboratory was conceptualized 6 April and all activities have been completed record time of 15 days which is by 20 April, said the Defence Research and Development Organisation.
Apart from screening Coronavirus samples, the labs can also be used for drug screening, therapeutics, Coronavirus diagnostics, vaccine development, development of diagnostic kits, and so on.
The laboratory, DRDO says, can enable the test services at remote places. Apart from that, the laboratory will also enable the researchers and medical practitioners to undertake research activities and develop diagnostics assays and therapeutics.
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 system has built in electrical controls, LAN, Telephone cabling, and CCTV.
The Mobile Lab 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 lab screens 1000-2000 samples per day. This lab can be positioned anywhere in the country, as per requirement.