Rajnath Singh inaugurates Mobile Lab by DRDO against COVID-19

Union Defense Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated a one-of-its-kind Mobile Lab today. He commended the efforts of the Ministry of Armed forces that have developed this lab. It has the screening capacity of more than 1000 patients a day.

In a tweet, he said, "I congratulate team DRDO for developing this mobile lab in Hyderabad. The Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces are working tirelessly to strengthen India’s capacity and capability in winning the war against the menace of COVID-19."

Several prominent leaders were a part of the inauguration ceremony. In that regard, some major names included Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Labour Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar and Minister of State for Home Kishan Reddy and Telangana Industries Minister K Taraka Ramarao.

On that account, Rajnath Singh also tweeted: Inaugurated the first of its kind mobile lab named Mobile Virology Research and Diagnostics Laboratory (MVRDL) developed by DRDO India in record time to speed up COVID-19 screening and R&D activities. This mobile lab has the screening capacity of more than 1000 samples daily."

The lab was developed in a record time of two weeks. The Biosafety level-3 laboratory can test 1000-2000 samples daily. The laboratory also has a facility to trial drugs and conduct research on Coronavirus.

What else is DRDO doing?

Some of the major works undertaken by DRDO are:

1. Disinfectant Chamber

2. Seam Sealing Bio Suit

3. Personal Protective Equipment

4. The shift of Testing centre from Gwalior to Delhi

The DRDO is famous for producing cutting edge technology to beat Coronavirus. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh has even offered to 9000 beds for COVID-19 patients. They have supplied 53,000 bio suits to the Army and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) as well.

In the light of the current development, Senior DRDO scientist Y Srinivas informed AIR that the laboratory can expand its operations in future. It can also be moved easily to anywhere in the country.