Armenia importing lab tests for the coronavirus diagnosis: pack with 50 tests costs nearly $ 1,500

Armenia reached an agreement this morning with one of the Chinese companies producing laboratory tests for the diagnosis of the new 2019-nCoV coronavirus, the quality of which is guaranteed by the Chinese government, Armenian health minister Arsen Torosyan told reporters.

According to him, a pack with 50 tests cost about $ 1,500, and it is very expensive, but given the situation with coronavirus, these tests are necessary. According to the minister, so far it is planned to purchase 200 tests (four packs), which will be used only for patients who have symptoms of coronavirus infection. Testing people without symptoms, according to experts, is impractical.

The minister noted that coronavirus 2019-nCoV is a new strain, and tests for its diagnosis are still in short supply - they provide only countries with a high risk of infection.

While there are no tests in Armenia, if 2019-nCoV coronavirus is suspected, biological samples of patients can be sent to laboratories in the UK, Germany, the Netherlands or Russia.