Covid test on wheels: Result in 30 mins at ₹1,250
JAMSHEDPUR: Bharat Engineering and Body Building Company (BEBCO) based in Adityapur Industrial Area (AIA) has rolled out a mobile Covid-19 testing van built as per ICMR guidelines which claims to deliver test reports within 20-30 minutes at Rs 1,250 per test.
The unique van – built at a cost of Rs 55 lakh– is capable of conducting 400 tests per day and has the facilities for immunoglobulin G (IGG) antibody test, antigen test and TruNat tests, officials said on Thursday.
BEBCO director Naveen Bhalotia said on Thursday that the van has been built as per the ICMR guidelines and the ICMR certification was expected within the next couple of days.
The newer Covid-19 antigen test detects certain proteins that are part of the virus using a nasal or throat swab to get a fluid sample, producing results in minutes.
“Chattisgarh has kept one such Covid-19 testing van and floated tender for the same. We have applied for the tender on Thursday and they will start using the van after the tender process is over in two days. Goa, Maharashtra, Nepal governments have approached us while talks are on with Tata Steel for two such vans. Marwari Samaj in Howrah (West Bengal) too has booked one,” said Naveen.
“The van has three types of testing facilities. After sanitizing and thermal screening, the subject is sent to the lab where IGG antibody test is done and then samples are collected for antigen testing or TruNat testing. The results are delivered within 20-30 minutes and each test will cost Rs 1,250 . The van can conducti 400 tests a day,” said Naveen.
He said the van has two chambers for sanitizing and thermal screening, and for the lab where sampling and testing will be done. The van has been made on a Tata-407 mini truck and can accommodate six people. It also has a biosafety cabinet and chemical toilet.