DRDO establishes Covid-19 testing facility at Leh.

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has established a COVID-19 testing facility at the Leh based laboratory Defence Institute of High Altitude Research (DIHAR). The centre was inaugurated by Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, RK Mathur on 22 July 2020. The aim is to enhance the rate of testing to identify the COVID-19 cases in the Union Territory of Ladakh. 

COVID-19 Testing Facility:
♦ COVID-19 testing facility will help in keeping close watch of the infected persons.
♦ The facility has been established in a way that it meets the safety standards and guidelines of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). 
♦ The testing facility at DIHAR is capable of screening 50 samples per day. 
♦ The facility can be utilized for training manpower for COVID-19 testing and will be of great help to address future bio-threats and carrying out R&D activities pertinent to agro-animals diseases.
♦ The new facility at DIHAR will help in the treatment of COVID-19 infected persons.
♦ The bio-safety aspect of the testing facility and precautionary measures will minimize the cross-contamination and safety of researchers, health professionals and the environment.

Defence Institute of High Altitude Research:
DIHAR is DRDO’s life sciences laboratories that function on cold arid agro-animal technologies. The laboratory screens and identifies the medicinal and aromatic plants to exploit them for use for defence purposes and on greenhouse technologies for high altitude and cold desert areas.