US agri-giant Cargill this week donated polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing kits and equipment that will be used to detect the presence of SARS CoV-2, the cause of COVID-19, the company said Wednesday.
The tests will be used for patient samples at Ecuador’s Cancer Hospital of Guayaquil, Chile’s University of Concepción, and Chile’s Magallanes University.
This testing will help more quickly identify cases of COVID-19, leading to faster patient treatment and immediate isolation to prevent the spread of the virus, the company said.
“These PCR donations support communities in which our aqua nutrition business operates,” said Pilar Cruz, president of Cargill’s Aqua Nutrition business.
The donated PCR equipment significantly increases the number of tests that can be processed—while shortening turnaround time, the company said.
