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University of the Punjab

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PU scientists develop low-price kit for Corona virus diagnosis - PU VC announces free-of-cost tests for Corona suspects
PU scientists develop low-price kit for Corona virus diagnosis - PU VC announces free-of-cost tests for Corona suspects


LAHORE: (Monday, March 16, 2020): A team of Punjab University scientists headed by Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology’s Prof Dr Muhammad Idrees has developed a low-price diagnostic kit to test suspected Corona virus patients and the cost of one test would be around 5 US dollars or Rs 800 only. Talking to media, Prof Dr Muhammad Idrees, a renowned virologist and former vice chancellor of University of Hazara, said that development of the kit was not a big job for a scientist however now the government would be able to get diagnostic kits from its own department. He said that the laboratory where the test of Corona virus suspect was being tested should match BSL 3 standard so that lab staff and others could not be affected and spread of virus could be controlled. He said that on availability of some basic ingredients, the team could develop thousands of kits within a week for the government. In his message, PU VC Prof Niaz Ahmad said that PU CEMB would conduct tests of Corona virus suspects free-of-cost so that relief could be given to the people at large. He said that this was the role of universities to resolve the problems being faced by the society and country and PU would play its role to cope with this menace in this critical time as well.