Hungary received equipment from IAEA to detect coronavirus

IAEA equipment

In March 2020, the International Atomic Energy Agency offered member states if they require its support to send equipment to enable them to use a nuclear-derived technique to rapidly detect the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. The IAEA is using its own resources as well as extrabudgetary funding for its emergency COVID-19 assistance. A number of countries, including Hungary, requested the support of the IAEA, and in June, the National Public Health Center in Budapest received the shipment.

The technique is known as real time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (real time RT-PCR). This is the most sensitive technique for detecting viruses currently available. Click here for more information on the IAEA website.