Dubai witnessed on June 21 the launch of a mobile laboratory that carries out over 2,000 tests — including PCR tests — per day and is expected to reduce the pressure on related facilities during the pandemic.
The mobile lab — +Seegene Mobile Station+ — was launched by health-tech company G42 Healthcare in partnership with Korean biotechnology company Seegene Inc, to provide optimized molecular diagnosis and tests on the go.
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Unlike mobile laboratories doing only sample collection, the Seegene station is considered an all-in-one platform enabling 2,000 tests daily — including 225 pathogens in 10 different criteria – besides offering a streamlined, automated workflow comprising pre-extraction to data analysis.
Ashish Koshy, CEO of G42 Healthcare, said that the mobile lab will help governments in onsite testing in epidemic-prone areas and crowded places including community events. He further said that mobile station will significantly contribute to the mitigation efforts of COVID-19 in the country.
Koshy said that the lab provides one-stop multiple solutions by taking, testing, and processing samples at any location – thus safeguarding the health of communities through swift detection.
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The lab handles both PCR or rapid testing and, where standard PCR tests take around 6 to 7 hours, rapid testing results come in an hour or even 25-minutes.
The mobile station also included an equipment room and extraction room, apart from housing a biosafety level-2 laboratory for the extraction room, collection device and instruments.
While transportable by sea or land, and easily installed in public places such as airports, schools, and labor accommodations, this lab can easily reach underdeveloped areas that lack adequate medical facilities, Koshy said. (AW)
