In Viçosa and Rio Paranaíba, laboratories are authorized by Funed to carry out coronavirus tests. Locations are awaiting materials to begin.
According to information released last Thursday (2), by the Minas Gerais State Health Department (SES-MG), the Ezequiel Dias Foundation (Funed) authorized the Federal University of Viçosa (UFV) to begin carrying out tests to detect the new coronavirus.
Six laboratories, five on the Viçosa campus in Zona da Mata and another in Rio Paranaíba in Alto Paranaíba, are among the 19 that have been accredited by the State. The locations are awaiting the arrival of materials to begin carrying out tests.
The UFV said that the expectation is that around 200 tests will be carried out daily, with results being released within 48 hours. The authorized test is the real-time RT-PCR, which involves collecting a sample of the patient's nasal and throat secretion.
Team
The University will perform sample analyses on patients suspected of having coronavirus at the following locations: The Laboratory of Virus Ecology and Evolution, coordinated by Professor Francisco Murilo Zerbini (DFP); the Laboratory of Ecological and Evolutionary Genetics, on the Rio Paranaíba campus, coordinated by Professors Rubens Pasa, Karine Kavalco and Pedro Ivo Good God. Also at the Laboratory of Immunobiology and Animal Virology, coordinated by Professor Abelardo Silva Júnior (DVT); and at the Virus Laboratory, coordinated by Professor Poliane Alfenas Zerbini (DMB);
According to the researchers, carrying out the tests does not put UFV at risk since the collection of materials for examinations is carried out by doctors and also by other health professionals in the care units.
“After collection, before being transported to the laboratory, the sample to be analyzed receives a solution that destroys the lipid envelope, inactivating the virus,” said Professor Murilo Zerbini.
In addition to testing to detect COVID-19 infection in patients, laboratories also have the structure to sequence the coronavirus genome. “This work helps to elucidate questions related to the spread and evolution of this virus. This can support decisions related to measures to contain the epidemic,” said Professor Poliane Zerbini.