REAGENTS and test kits for identifying the 2019 Wuhan Novel Coronavirus are now in country, Health and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo said on Monday.
By Kudakwashe Pembere
Previously, the country relied on South Africa to test for the 2019 n-CoV.Zimbabwe has the equipment required for this feat housed at the National Health Laboratory Services at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital, Mpilo Victoria Falls Airport.
The reagents are in country, this is what we are saying. Besides that we are sourcing kits for the rapid testing which takes 15 minutes. We have identified and acquired the novel coronavirus kits. That is why we are here. So now we are in the process of acquiring the rapid test kits,” he told HealthTimes.
He said they dont have a time frame as to when the rapid test kits will arrive.
“The rapid test kits will come through from China. With the Embassy of China, it was identifying for us where we can source them. For now we have got these ones here which is for the PCR still for the identification of the coronavirus,” said Dr Moyo.
The equipement at lab toured by the Minister can produce about 60 results in 2 hours which the Minister said was fast.
