A new COVID- 19 testing kit and a face mask have been created by a research team of the University of Peradeniya, the Ministry of Trade announced.
Subject Minister Bandula Gunawardena said steps are being taken to market the products via Lanka Sathosa and the State Trading General Corporation.
He further said the Ministry is also discussing ways to promote the face mask, ‘Respirone NANO 99’, to the global market.
The facemask reportedly has improved nano-filteration which could kill any virus or bacteria. It could also be washed at least 25 times. Another specialty of the face mask is that it could destroy carbon dioxide without allowing it to enter into the person wearing it.
Commenting on the new COVID-19 testing kit, Professor Ruchika Fernando of Peradeniya University said the testing kit costs less than Rs 1,500 and will have the capability of identifying any mutant of the virus.
He said results of the tests could be obtained within two hours, adding that large amount of money spent of PCR tests could be reduced by utilizing this testing kits.
Professor Ruchika Fernando said the product will be released to the local market upon approval received from the Medical Research Authority. (NewsWire)