Lebanon: Coronavirus rapid diagnosis machinery donated

(To UNIFIL)
04/12/20

Two new machines for the rapid diagnosis of Coronavirus positivity were donated by the Italian contingent of the United Nations deployed in South Lebanon (Unifil) to the hospital of Tire and Tibnin, two of the most important reference centers in the country for the fight at Covid. These are two automatic extractors that allow the automated preparation of DNA, RNA and protein samples, reducing the manual processing steps of the analyzes, with standardized results and faster response times, as well as more accurate monitoring of processes.

The equipment, purchased with funds from the Italian Ministry of Defense, will allow the experts from the virology laboratories of the two Lebanese hospitals to have an extra weapon in the fight against Coronavirus.

"Thanks to these modern machinery it will be possible to reduce the extraction times of the Coronavirus genome and, therefore, to break down those related to the diagnostic response, so as to intervene more quickly on the patient with the therapy", explained the medical directors of the two hospitals.

Sentiments of gratitude for the special donation were expressed by the local political and health authorities to Brigadier General Andrea Di Stasio, commander of the west sector of Unifil led by the “Sassari” brigade. Furthermore, particular gratitude was expressed towards the Italian soldiers who, despite Covid, continue to operate alongside the Lebanese people.

"The health emergency that we are experiencing and facing concerns everyone closely"Di Stasio said. “The virus makes no distinction of nationality. Only by remaining united, putting ourselves at the service of the community, can we think of defeating it and returning to everyday life ".

A similar donation was made by the Italian contingent in favor of the hospitals of Tire and Bint Jbeil as part of the civil-military cooperation projects for the fight against the Coronavirus emergency in the south of the country. On that occasion, two modern devices were delivered to process the swabs, necessary and indispensable tools to ascertain the cases of positivity to Covid -19 which are based on the molecular polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method, developed on the basis of genetic sequence of the Sars-Cov-2 virus.