Tasnim � Iranian Vice President for Science and Technology Sorena Sattari inaugurated a plant manufacturing coronavirus diagnostic test kits, saying the export of the homegrown device will begin in the near future.

Sattari on Saturday opened the assembly line of domestically-developed coronavirus test kits in the city of Karaj, 30 kilometers west of Tehran.

The vice president praised local experts for manufacturing a broad range of equipment for the battle with COVID-19, including surgery room apparatuses, medical ventilators and masks, saying six local knowledge-based companies have received permission for the production of coronavirus diagnostic test kits.

Sattari said the new plant has a capacity to produce 100,000 test kits that utilize PCR (polymerase chain reaction) analysis and 2 million serologic test kits per week.

As soon as the assembly lines are promoted and the production capacity increases, Iran will become an exporter of the coronavirus diagnostic test kits, he said.