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Iran unveils portable rapid testing lab for COVID-19

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Yusef Jalali 
Press TV, Tehran

Iran is among countries that have been badly hit by the novel coronavirus. Iran’s Volunteer Basij Force Organization has unveiled a sort of testing equipment to help detect coronaviurs suspects more rapidly. 

As COVID-19 continues to spread at an alarming rate, health professionals say that efficient testing will be one of the keys to containing the virus.
Iran’s Volunteer Basij Force Organization has unveiled a rapid testing device that can deliver results in two hours.

Currently, the majority of COVID-19 tests use the same technology called real-time polymerase chain reaction, shortly referred to as RT-PCR. These tests amplify and detect the virus’ genetic material.

The tests are usually returned in a matter of few hours. However, if the result is positive, a second test needs to be run after 72 hours to ensure the reliability of the result. This is where this rapid testing method makes a difference. It runs both tests at the same time, delivering the ultimate result in just two hours.

Being among the worst hit countries by COVID-19, Iran has been trying to expedite its efforts to contain the virus.

Currently, the country runs some 10,000 tests each day.
Experts say the new mobile testing equipment can speed up testing significantly, which will help track the infected more rapidly and act more swiftly to mitigate the spread.

With this new method, not only are tests run in a shorter period of time, but more people will have access to testing.

This means faster identification of the scope of the infected population, which will allow for swifter social distancing measures before the virus could spread to more people.


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