The Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, has made a desperate appeal for testing kits as the cases of Covid-19 in Nigeria soar.
He posted on his official Twitter handle today that Nigeria desperately needs more Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) extraction kits, from reputable manufacturers.
The extraction kits, which are currently in high demand across the world but in short supply, are part of the recommended diagnostic protocols published by Word Health Organisation (WHO).
Iheakweazu stated that the product the NCDC was looking for was a Total viral RNA extraction kits “preferably spin column and with a lysis buffer”; from the following manufacturers: Qiagen, ThermoFischer, SeeGene, Inqaba, LifeRiver.
He begged for anyone with the products to urgently reach the NCDC on ncdclabnetwork@ncdc.gov.ng.
The tweet reads: “We’re desperately looking for more RNA extraction kits as we expand #COVID19 testing. Product: Total viral RNA extraction kits (preferably spin column and with a lysis buffer). Manufacturers: Qiagen, ThermoFischer, SeeGene, Inqaba, LifeRiver etc”.
