Biotech company 54Gene has increased COVID-19 lab capacity in Nigeria with a mobile lab in Ogun, a southwestern state.
Apart from its DNA biobank laboratory in Lagos, the number of molecular laboratories in the Nigerian Center for Disease Control (NCDC) network of coronavirus centers stands at 17 as of today, reports Tech Cabal.
54Gene, a startup and personal, has played an active role in expanding coronavirus testing in Nigeria. In March, the biotech startup introduced a fund aimed at expanding the country’s ability to detect the disease: a total of $500,000 was raised.
The cell lab itself is a 12-meter-high container structure. It is designed as a plug and play feature that minimizes the demanding logistical situations involved in sending samples to the site for processing.
It is believed that the time and prices that will be stored due to the prefabricated nature of the laboratory will, in turn, be channeled towards more pressing infrastructure needs. Instead, attention should be paid to ensuring the availability of testing devices and protective devices for healthcare workers.
Partnering with 54Gene on the mobile lab are financial institution First City Monument Bank (FCMB) and Argentil Capital Partners, a Nigerian-based energy and infrastructure advisory firm.
The installation will be carried out through a 10kVA solar energy solution through its partner Arnergy, a Nigerian renewable energy company.
COVID in Nigeria
The slow pace of testing in Nigeria has drawn much criticism. The Nigerian fitness government has begun taking steps to step up its efforts over the past month. As of March 30, when the states of Lagos, Abuja and Ogun entered a federally imposed lockdown, there were only 6 laboratories accredited to conduct tests.
Since then, more services have been added in states outside Lagos, the epicenter, and in northern Nigerian states such as Kano, where reports of deaths have sparked widespread concern.
54Gene plans to implement a cell testing laboratory in Kano in the near future.
Edited by Luis Monzon
Follow Luis Monzon on Twitter
Follow IT News Africa on Twitter