Ukraine's Public Health Center can independently determine strains of coronavirus - Sep. 18, 2021

Ukraine’s Public Health Center can independently determine strains of coronavirus

Published Sept. 18, 2021 at 2:08 pm

This undated handout image obtained March 28, 2021, courtesy of The National Institue of Allergy and Infectious Diseases/ NIH shows a transmission electron microscope image of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, isolated from a patient in the US, as virus particles are shown emerging from the surface of cells cultured in the lab, the spikes on the outer edge of the virus particles give coronaviruses their name, crown-like.

Photo by AFP

Equipment for sequencing (detecting new strains) of SARS-CoV-2 samples has appeared at the Public Health Center, according to the website of the Ministry of Health.

According to the report, the sequencer will be able to process 400 samples per month.

“I am convinced that having a laboratory that can carry out sequencing is a matter of national security. Finally, we have it. Now we will be able to respond quickly to biological threats, clearly identifying the source. Earlier Ukraine sent its samples for sequencing to the WHO laboratories, which took some time, now we will be able to respond promptly,” Health Minister Viktor Liashko commented.

In addition, equipment for laboratory centers in each region was purchased using budget funds.