DRDO develops India's first Covid-19 sample collection mobile lab

The Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) in collaboration with labour ministry governed ESIC medical college & hospital, Sanathnagar (Hyderabad) has developed India's first COVID-19 sample collection mobile lab named “Mobile BSL-3 VRDL Lab”

Approved by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the lab was launched on Thursday by defence minister Rajnath Singh.

Speaking on the occasion, minister Singh appreciated the efforts of DRDO and ESIC in setting up of this bio-safety Level 2 and Level 3 lab in a record time of 15 days which usually takes about six months time.


This testing facility can process more than 1,000 samples in a day and will enhance country’s capabilities in fighting COVID-19.

Labour minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar complemented DRDO and ESIC for developing the mobile testing lab in a very short time saying it will be very important in our fight against CORONA virus.

The design of mobile BSL-3 VRDL Lab has been developed by DRDO scientists whereas specification of the lab has been given by ESIC medical college & hospital, Sanathnagar, Hyderabad.

The project has been executed and constructed by three industry partners of DRDO. Other innovative technologies developed by DRDO and shared with ESIC medical college & hospital, Sanathnagar, Hyderabad comprise of COVSACK unit for sample collection, aerosol boxes and aerosolized sanitizer dispenser, snorkel face masks and face shields as reusable PPE N-95 equivalent, UV-C disinfection chamber in the fight against Covid-19 for use by the hospital.