COVID-19 test kits
About this project
Each kit consists of two swabs and a tube containing viral transport medium. Hidrofer produces Dacron swabs, the best type of swabs to test for Covid-19, from a model designed by ABC University of Algarve. Técnico is responsible for the sterilisation process of swabs and ABC produces the liquid in the sample transport tube.
“Due to the lack of material and a growing shortage of reagents needed to perform COVID-19 tests, we decided to bring partners together to begin mass producing this type of material”, explains the president of Técnico, professor Rogério Colaço. “Right now we are able to produce 100,000 kits per week and we already have 30,000 kits to be sent to the competent authorities”.
According to Nuno Marques, president of ABC, “this initiative reinforces the important role of research as a public service provider. We must use scientific knowledge for the benefit of society, so we are looking for new solutions on a daily basis in order to respond to the problem we are facing right now”.
Location
- Lisbon
- Faro
- Vila Nova de Famalicão
Entities
- Instituto Superior Técnico
- Algarve Biomedical Center
- Hidrofer
Support entities
- Logoplaste
- Luso-American Development Foundation (FLAD)
- Santander Bank
Keywords
- Swabs
- Swab sterilisation
- Test kits