A Senegalese Innovation Lab Is Helping the UK Develop a 10-Minute Coronavirus Test Kit
By Yomi Kazeem
There might soon be a much faster way to diagnose Covid-19—thanks, in part, to a specialized facility in Dakar, Senegal.
As part of its £46 million ($60 million) coronavirus prevention and research funding package, the UK government has awarded a £1 million grant to Mologic, a British biotech firm, to develop “point of need” test kits that can diagnose Covid-19 in 10 minutes. In partnership with the Institut Pasteur de Dakar, manufacturing of the test kits will happen at DiaTropix, a new custom-built facility for epidemics-related innovation, in Dakar, Senegal. Manufacturing of the test kits, expected to be a handheld device, is has been slated for June.
Photo courtesy of Chris Potter.
Source: Quartz Africa (link opens in a new window)
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