PCMD's new lab to start coronavirus tests soon

The Rs58.28 million facility will be ready to conduct coronavirus tests by April 23

KARACHI: Dr Panjwani Centre for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD), University of Karachi, will soon perform 800 coronavirus tests daily, as the Sindh government-funded laboratory nears completion at the PCMD's National Institute of Virology (NIV).

Speaking at a meeting with virology experts at the NIV on Saturday, International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences director Prof M Iqbal Choudhary said the facility, which is being constructed with a budget of Rs58.28 million, would be ready to conduct coronavirus tests by April 23.

However, he mentioned that the laboratory could only start operating after the availability of kits. "When the Sindh government provides PCMD the validated kits from the National Disaster Management Authority, the facility can start receiving and processing the samples."

Published in The Express Tribune, April 12^th, 2020.