TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Mataram University along with the Hepatika Bumi Gora Laboratory of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) succeeded to develop a Covid-19 rapid antigen test dubbed Enram. The test kit was launched by NTB Governor Zulkieflimansyah on Thursday, February 25.

“When we talk about coronavirus, it is identical with sophisticated equipment available in big cities,” said the governor, praising the innovation.

According to Zulkieflimansyah, the collaboration can ease the tracing of Covid-19 patients which could reduce the number of cases in the province. He claimed that NTB lacked equipment so that Enram was expected to help tackle the pandemic.

“Hopefully this pandemic will be contained quickly,” he said.

Doctor Zul, the governor’s familiar call, requested more production of Enram, which was claimed to have an accuracy rate of up to 91 percent compared to the PCR swab test. He targeted 50,000 test kits by the end of March 2021. “The sooner the better.”

He said he never thought that NTB could develop its own rapid antigen test kits. This proved that industrialization did not reflect on big factories. The governor believed that if the province is given the opportunity and resources, it could develop a Covid-19 vaccine.

“On behalf of the local government, we appreciate and thank Hepatika and Unram (Mataram University)," Zulkieflimansyah said.

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ANTARA