COVID-19: India to source high-speed testing machines from US

India is sourcing six high-speed testing machines from the US, MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava told mediapersons on Thursday.These machines are capable of conducting between 6000-8000 tests for coronavirus simultaneously.

“Six SUV-sized high speed testing machines, which are in high demand, are being sourced from Roche in USA,” he said.

Despite a huge domestic demand, the Trump administration agreed to this. It is to be noted that earlier India had relaxed its own export rules on hydroxychloroquine for shipment to the US.

Srivastava said in the past two weeks, around two dozen flights from five cities in China brought in nearly 400 tonnes of medical supplies, including RT-PCR test kits, Rapid Antibody Tests, PPE kits, thermometers etc. He said 20 more flights are expected to bring supplies from China in the coming days.

"MEA is facilitating collaboration between India and foreign agencies in research and development efforts related to COVID-19," Srivastava was quoted as saying by TOI.