Gov’t Launches Mobile Laboratory for COVID-19 Handling
Minister of Research and Technology/Head of the National Agency for Research and Innovation (BRIN) inspects the Mobile Lab BSL-2 trial on Tuesday (16/6). (Photo by: BPPT).
Ministry of Research and Technology/the National Agency for Research and Innovation (BRIN) on Tuesday (16/6) launched a mobile Biosafety Level-2 (BSL-2) laboratory for Mohammad Ridwan Meuraksa Hospital in Jakarta to support COVID-19 massive testing.
According to Minister of Research and Technology/Head of BRIN Bambang Brodjonegoro, the BSL-2 mobile lab is developed by the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) to meet the World Health Organization (WHO) requirements required for a minimum standard for COVID-19 handling.
Bambang also said that the operation of mobile lab shows that the country’s innovation could replace the demand for imported medical equipment regarding COVID-19 handling.
The mobile lab is also expected to realize the testing target to 10,000 samples per day, he added.
On that occasion, the Minister also thanked various stakeholders, including private and state-owned sectors, that have entrusted domestic innovations to replace the demand for imports in COVID-19 handling.
“The BSL-2 mobile lab is expected to meet the needs of regions, especially outside Java Island, that rarely has labs since the labs are usually located in the provincial capital,” the Minister said, adding that the epicenter of the virus transmission could be in regions, regencies, or cities far from the provincial capital.
“The current strategy is testing and tracing. Thus, the COVID-19 test is quite important, especially for COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing,” he added.
In the meantime, Head of the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) Hammam Riza said that the BSL-2 Mobile Lab has a testing capacity of around 120 specimens per 12 hours due to its interlock system and the type of reagent.
“The BSL-2 Mobile Lab is also equipped with two swab chambers. The mobile lab is expected to strengthen the COVID-19 specimen inspection capacity in Jakarta surrounding areas,” Hammam said.
According to Hammam, the mobile lab is also equipped with the COVID Monitor application (PC-19), which will facilitate the public to carry out swab tests through an online registration so that people can get their schedule for swab tests.
“The mobile lab is also integrated with an application that can summarize PCR testing results that have been verified by medical personnel (the BSL2 SIM app). The results are ready to be forwarded to the national reporting system to support data collection as well as results reporting process,” he added.
For the record, the BSL-2 Mobile Lab is one of the task force’s research and technological innovation (TFRIC-19) that deserves appreciation and pride. The lab is developed by Indonesians in a relatively short time.
The BSL-2 mobile lab development aims to increase COVID-19 testing capacity in the country and is also expected to help increase testing capabilities in regions that do not have a BSL-2 standard laboratory yet.
The lab also supports the COVID-19 samples to be analyzed immediately without sending them to the capitals or a big city. (Humas BPPT/EN)
Translated by: Syarifah Aisyah
Reviewed by: M. Ersan Pamungkas
