Flu strain testing lab opens in Volyn

Lutsk, December 31 (Interfax-Ukraine) - A laboratory capable of identifying influenza strains has opened at the sanitary and epidemiological station in Lutsk (Volyn province). The station's press service reported that flu strain samples previously had to be sent to Kyiv for testing, but now they can be tested in Lutsk within eight hours. The uniqueness of the laboratory equipment lies in the fact that it can simultaneously test for 98 samples.

The station's chief doctor, Natalia Yanko, said that the amount of reagents would be sufficient to conduct 192 tests. "This amount is sufficient to monitor the epidemiological situation in the province through the end of the winter season," she said.