Armenia produces first 6,000 coronavirus test kits
01.07.2020,
14:23
The Institute of Molecular Biology, an affiliation of the Armenian National Academy of Sciences, has produced the first 6,000 coronavirus test kits, the head of the Institute Arsen Arakelyan said at an online press conference on Wednesday.
YEREVAN, July 1. /ARKA/. The Institute of Molecular Biology, an affiliation of the Armenian National Academy of Sciences, has produced the first 6,000 coronavirus test kits, the head of the Institute Arsen Arakelyan said at an online press conference on Wednesday.
The Armenian government had provided it with a $550,000 grant for development and production of the test kits. The Institute began the work on May 14 after the necessary materials were delivered.
Arakelyan said today that the Institute expects an official response from the Ministry of Health based on the results of independent research and testing by the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention. After that the tests are to be provided to the Ministry of Health for distributing among diagnostic laboratories.
"It was planned that we could produce two thousand test kits a day, but if necessary, we can expand outcome. At the moment, 6 thousand test kits have already been produced," Arakelyan said.
According to the director of the Institute, laboratory studies have shown that the accuracy of test kits is 98-100%. He also added that the cost of one test kit is the equivalent of $2.5, much cheaper than the average $10, which is the price of a kit abroad.
Speaking about the possibility of exporting Armenian test kits, he said for that Armenia-made kits must go through a lengthy certification and registration procedure, which is not yet mandatory in Armenia.
Armenian health authorities have reported 523 new cases of Covid-19 over the last 24 hours saying their total number has reached 26,065. According to the Health Ministry, 10 people have died from coronavirus, two more people have died from other causes. -0-
The Armenian government had provided it with a $550,000 grant for development and production of the test kits. The Institute began the work on May 14 after the necessary materials were delivered.
Arakelyan said today that the Institute expects an official response from the Ministry of Health based on the results of independent research and testing by the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention. After that the tests are to be provided to the Ministry of Health for distributing among diagnostic laboratories.
"It was planned that we could produce two thousand test kits a day, but if necessary, we can expand outcome. At the moment, 6 thousand test kits have already been produced," Arakelyan said.
According to the director of the Institute, laboratory studies have shown that the accuracy of test kits is 98-100%. He also added that the cost of one test kit is the equivalent of $2.5, much cheaper than the average $10, which is the price of a kit abroad.
Speaking about the possibility of exporting Armenian test kits, he said for that Armenia-made kits must go through a lengthy certification and registration procedure, which is not yet mandatory in Armenia.
Armenian health authorities have reported 523 new cases of Covid-19 over the last 24 hours saying their total number has reached 26,065. According to the Health Ministry, 10 people have died from coronavirus, two more people have died from other causes. -0-
