The world is currently going through one of the biggest challenges it has encountered since over a decade with a Covid-19 pandemic that has resulted in the people around the world isolating themselves and remaining in Quarantine for an undetermined period of time. With the increase in the number of cases all around the world, it has created a worldwide shortage of COVID-19 kits. As researchers all around the world are hoping to find ways to make the entire process cheaper, a group of researchers from University of Punjab have developed cheap coronavirus testing kits.
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The researchers from University of Punjan have claimed to have produced a coronavirus kit that is cheaper than any other test model. Dr. Muhammad Idrees and his team of students at the University of Punjab have claimed to create a testing kit that will be able to diagnose coronavirus among patients that will cost only $5 or PKR 800. On average, the current number of kits that are available in the country that have been produced either locally or imported have cost around PKR 3200 rupees. Hence, this can be greatly beneficial if executed well.
While talking to the media, Professor of Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology Dr. Muhammad Idrees said that they had been working on the kit ever since the year was started in January and were able to produce the entire kit for a bargain price. It was initially being used to detect COVID-19 at the university, but after the Vice Chancellor’s instructions, it will be extended to help people in the country if it is approved and mass produced. Dr. Idrees revealed that the kit uses a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based method to detect the infection. Moreover, they have also stated that after they are provided with certain necessary ingredients, they can produce thousands of kits for the government.
