Edinburgh Napier University has responded to the national call by Health Secretary Matt Hancock for critical lab equipment to provide more frequent and faster testing for coronavirus across the country.
The university have announced that they will be sending materials and machines that are featured on the government's help list to play their part in the fight against coronavirus.
The call was made on the 10th April for certain priority items to be donated if possible.
Professor Gary Hutchison, Dean of Applied Sciences, secured permission to return to the Sighthill campus with his family during the national lockdown to identify materials on the Government help list which have now been collected by a military team as a temporary loan.
The equipment loaned by the University includes four thermo cycler machines, used as part of the molecular biology process to determine if a patient test is positive or negative for the virus.
Following collection by the army, they will now be sent to test centres across the UK to support the drive to increase testing.
The university have also stated they are in the process of collecting PPE equipment to support those involved with COVID-19 testing as well as other frontline work.
Professor Hutchison said: “Assembling the correct equipment to meet testing needs in this time of national emergency is a huge logistical challenge.
“As Dean, I am proud that our School is doing what it can to support this national scientific effort, our local scientists and frontline health professionals as best we can in this time of need.”
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