National University of Science and Technology (NUST) has claimed to develop coronavirus detection kits. The researchers at the Attaur Rahman School of Applied Biosciences successfully produced a local Molecular Detection Assays for the detection of the novel coronavirus.
The screening kits are developed in collaboration with Wuhan Institute of Virology China, DZIF Germany, Columbia University USA and Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, AFIP.
Reportedly, the testing kits will cost one-fourth less than the existing imported coronavirus testing kits. The officials at the NUST say the assays have been developed at a time when the world is in the grip of an unprecedented pandemic virus outbreak and scientists and researchers are striving to ascertain remedies to this incurable disease.
https://twitter.com/Official_NUST/status/1239162122887725057?s=20
The assays include both conventional and real-time PCR-based methods of Sybr Green and Taqman. Moreover, the kits have been tested at laboratory controls and patient samples. The team has Associate Professor Dr. Aneela Javed and Assistant Professor Dr. Ali Zohaib.
Read more: Sindh announces reward for developing coronavirus vaccine
NUST shared the news and posted the pictures of the team on its Twitter account.
Social media users appreciated the researchers of NUST for locally developing the screening kits at a time when cases of coronavirus are rising exponentially in Pakistan.
Good job 👏
NUST team develops testing kits for detecting Covid-19 | The Express Tribune https://t.co/ufMhOuJq0C— Dr. Shahbaz GiLL (@SHABAZGIL) March 15, 2020
Earlier, Minister for Local administration and municipality, Nasir Hussain Shah said that the Sindh government would provide full facilities to the laboratories and research students and the Sindh government would bear all the expenses.
It may be recalled that another coronavirus patient has been reported in Sindh on Friday, March 13. As of today, Sindh has 76 confirmed cases of coronavirus, 50 people returning from Taftan border tested positive.
He appealed that research laboratory and research students to assist the Sindh government in the preparation of the coronavirus vaccine.
“Whoever is going to produce a vaccine for coronavirus will be rewarded, we hereby ask all the research laboratories, research students, whoever is going to develop an exact vaccine will be rewarded whereas all the expenses for the research, etc will be funded by the government of Sindh,” Shah said in his video message.
Now with the help of NUST, the cost of the coronavirus tests is expected to reduce in Pakistan.