New Delhi. 22 March 2020. DRDE has made a sanitizing formulation. It’s 14389 bottles, each filled with 500 mL of sanitizer formulation has been made available to DRDO hq. This formulation is prepared in the lab itself as per WHO’s guidelines.The hand sanitizers and disinfectants to clean floor etc. were manufactured by DRDO. They have been given to various other govt. agencies also for critical use.
DRDE is also performing the detection / tests of COVID 19 cases. These are done with protocols duly standardized in accordance with National Center of Disease Control (NCDC). DRDE is selected by the MP state health authorities for undertaking the detection.
Now many DRDO labs have been authorised to produce the DRDE formulation and some of the organisations where some these products have been given are IB, CBI, NTRO, NSCS, IA, IAF, IN, SPG, MoD, PMO, LKM, MOUD, Niti Aayog etc. Efforts are being made to produce in large scale.
Defence Research & Development Establishment (DRDE) is an Indian defence laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Located in Gwalior, it is primarily involved in the research and development of detection and protection against toxic chemical and biological agents. DRDE is organised under the Life Sciences Directorate of DRDO.
In 1924, the Maharaja of Gwalior established a research laboratory to explore forest products and mineral resources. In 1947, the Jiwaji Industrial Research Laboratory (as the lab was known) was inaugurated by C. Rajagopalachari, the then Governor General of India. In 1966, it was taken over by the Ministry of Defence. As its research activities expanded, in 1973, JIRL was made a separate laboratory, and renamed as Defence Research & Development Establishment.
DRDE is the primary defence laboratory involved in the development of NBC detection and protection systems. It conducts research in the fields of biochemistry, microbiology, biotechnology, Virology and toxicology. It conducts safety and toxicological evaluations of hazardous chemicals and materials.
It also develops rapid diagnostic tests for pathogens and investigates preventive measures for the control of diseases. To protect from chemical weapons, it also conducts research in the area of detection, protection and decontamination of hazardous chemicals.
