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Serum Institute launches automated Covid test, claims can conduct 32 tests/hr

YB WEB DESK. Dated: 7/8/2020 1:22:33 PM

Pune, July 7 Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII) today launched a test kit to detect Covid-19 and claimed its test kit minimises human interaction and reduces time because it is automated. Launching the test kit, an Automated Molecular Covid Test Machine, SII CEO Adar Poonawalla said increasing testing rate in India is the "need of the hour". The test kit has been developed by Serum Institute of India and Mylab Discovery Solutions. It is an automated machine and its manufacturers claim that it eliminates the infrastructure and capital requirement needed to set up a molecular lab. Speaking about the test kit, Adar Poonawalla said it is an automated Covid- 19 testing machine that can conduct 32 tests per hour. Besides Covid-19, this machine is capable of carrying out tests for other ailments as well, he said. Adar Poonawalla said private labs would be paying Rs 1,000 for every test conducted using this machine, and for public the price would be around Rs 2,500 per test. Hasmukh Rawal, director Mylabs Solutions, said at present there are two variants of this testing machine. The bigger machine costs Rs 40 lakh and the smaller.