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Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh has launched the one-of-its-kind Mobile COVID Testing Facility for the northeast regions. This Mobile Diagnostic Laboratory or I-LAB can perform both RT-PCR and ELISA tests.

The unique and innovative Lab has been developed by the Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone (AMTZ) and the Department of Biotechnology has supported the development of the Lab which will help in accessing COVID testing in rural and remote areas of North-East regions of the country as these states have unique climatic and topographic conditions.

The unit has a bio-safety facility and can also be used and can also be used to test other infectious diseases such as HIV, TB, etc. This feature makes the Lab useable even in post-COVID times.

Dr Singh, while launching, also called to link the Lab with the teleconsultation facility befitting the disease profile of the region's population. Tests such as Vision-Testing and Mammography can also be added with the mobile facility which will be hugely beneficial, he added.

The Lab will start its functions with the Mizoram state. Pu Zoramthanga, the Chief Minister of Mizoram, expressed his gratitude and said that this step will surely bridge the gaps in COVID testing border areas and remote regions lacking testing facilities.