Defence Research Laboratory contributes to mitigate COVID-19

Our Correspondent

TEZPUR: Defence Research Laboratory (DRL) of Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), Ministry of Defence, Government of India, is the only laboratory in Northeast India which is involved in the research and development activities for the benefit of armed forces and civil populace since 1962. Soon after the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country, DRL has taken various initiatives to carry out certain important first line defence activities, including making of WHO recommended hand rub sanitizers, their distribution, formulation of mass scale disinfectant, spraying, fogging and awareness among society to counter COVID-19 in the region.

Apart from this, on the request of the Government of Assam, DRL has also taken initiative to get approval for the testing of COVID-19 on the basis of expert scientists/technicians/staff and existing analytical facilities in the laboratory. State Health Minister Dr HimantaBiswaSarma inaugurated the DRL Centre for COVID-19 Testing (DCCT) facility on May 28 in the presence of other dignitaries of Assam Government. The created laboratory is fully equipped with BSL II capacity for testing of samples of individuals suspected with COVID-19. Testing of COVID-19 samples commenced from June 8. DRL, Tezpur has successfully completed testing of more than 10,000 COVID-19 samples.

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