VPBank and Viet Nam Young Physicians Association (VYPA) have brought mobile COVID-19 testing container trucks to support HCM City and Binh Duong Province as the fourth wave of infections escalates.

The containers are equipped with negative pressure systems, biological safety cabinets, wastewater treatment systems, mobile power supplies, laboratory tables and chairs, anti-vibration support, autoclave sterilisation, medical refrigerators and closed sample transfer systems. Each container has the ability to test 3,600 samples and 36,000 aggregate samples per day.

Ha Anh Duc, chief of the ministry’s Office Department cum VYPA chairman, said this is a test model with modern equipment, with real-time PCR testing.

The testing containers can be utilised in industrial parks and remote and mountainous areas, ensuring testing standards according to the MoH requirements. Their building cost is also much lower compared to on-site laboratories, thus they have helped save money and reduce sample transportation costs. Over the long term, the test containers can be repurposed for other laboratory needs, he said.

Each container has the ability to test 3,600 samples and 36,000 aggregate samples per day. — Photo courtesy of the bank

“The mobile COVID-19 test containers aim to provide the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, and the Ministry of Health with support to prevent and control the pandemic. We also expect that these test containers can contribute to speeding up sampling and returning COVID-19 screening results in HCM City,” Duc added.

VPBank has already presented two other containers to Pasteur Institute in HCM City and Phu Yen Province. The containers have had a positive impact in support sampling and testing for COVID-19, reducing pressure on other testing centres.

HCM City Department of Health proposed VYPA bring one more container to support their testing operations.

A VPBank representative said the mobile testing container is a unique, different and practical initiative that can immediately contribute to the prevention of the COVID-19 pandemic in HCM City in particular and the whole country in general.

“Sponsoring these testing containers’ production has once again confirmed VPBank's social responsibility, ready to contribute to the whole country’s fight against the pandemic.”

“The bank has also implemented a series of meaningful and practical activities such as a VND60 billion (US$2.6 million) donation to the vaccine fund and a support of VND5 billion for Bac Giang Province and other localities with medical equipment. These activities follow the spirit of "For a prosperous Viet Nam” programme that VPBank is implementing,” he added. — VNS