The Mizoram government will ramp up its testing ratio with new testing machines.
Health and family welfare board vice chairman Dr ZR Thiamsanga said the testing ratio would be accelerated with the help of Automated RNA Extractor machines which would boost the test capacity of RT-PCR machines at Zoram Medical College (ZMC).
Speaking on the occasion of the dinner programme hosted by health minister Dr. R. Lalthangliana at ZMC, Thiamsanga said Automated RNA Extractor machines are under calibration and test run.
The testing ratio per day would increase once the machines are successfully installed, he said.
The testing ratio could not be expedited as of now because reagent of the automated RNA extractor is not easily available and that the Centre has set norms for its daily limit, Thiamsanga said.
He said testing capacity will be increased and all back log samples will be tested within a few days from now.
Testing of samples for Covid-19 began at ZMC on April 7 with the help of RT-PCR borrowed from College of Veterinary Science.
Another RT-PCR machine was borrowed from Manipur and was successfully installed at ZMC last week.
The state government will also purchase similar machines and one donated by Taiwan is yet to arrive in the state.
On June 10, two Automated RNA Extractor machines were transported to Aizawl from Kolkata and installation is under progress at ZMC.