Amaravati (AP), Apr 8 (): Rapid testing kits beganrolling out from the state-run Andhra Pradesh Medi-Tech Zone(AMTZ) as demand for these grew exponentially consequent tothe spread of the novel coronavirus in the country, the stategovernment said on Wednesday. Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy formally launched thekits at his camp office on Wednesday. AMTZ is an enterprise under the Andhra Pradesh government,dedicated for medical device manufacturing and the IndianCouncil of Medical Research has recently approved the kits tobe manufactured at the zone in Visakhapatnam. Special Chief Secretary (Industries and Commerce) RajatBhargava handed over the first set of 1,000 rapid testingkits, manufactured at the AMTZ, to his counterpart in thehealth department K S Jawahar Reddy in the presence of theChief Minister and Industries Minister M Goutham Reddy. Later, the Industries Minister told reporters that theAMTZ started manufacturing 2,000 testing kits per day and itwould soon be scaled up to 25,000 units a week from nextmonth. The Minister said about 20 tests could be carried out witheach kit daily and would cost Rs 1,200 for the government.
DNA, RNA, PCR tests could also be performed using thesekits and the result obtained in 55 minutes.
From April 15, for the first time in the country,assembling of ventilators would also commence at the AMTZ,with an initial capacity of 3,000 per month.
It would later be increased to 5,000 a month, GouthamReddy added.
The Central government has already placed an order for3,500 ventilators, the Minister said. DBVVS VS
