Anthony Nolan has joined the national effort to combat Covid-19, following a direct appeal by the UK Government.
The charity has donated one of its two Tecan Freedom Evo robots, an automated liquid handling unit to help the Government scale up testing for the Covid-19 virus.
The Tecan robot replaces the requirement for manual manipulation of samples and reagents. It allows for greater accuracy and quality of work whilst also increasing the laboratory capacity to process samples versus manual methods. Anthony Nolan will continue to use is other Tecan robot in its work testing the HLA type of donors, joining the Anthony Nolan register, and the patients they could give a second chance of life.
Dimitri Michalakis, Head of Laboratory Services at Anthony Nolan, says: “Covid-19 poses an unmitigated risk to us all, but the threat felt even more acutely in the case of patients with blood cancer or who’ve recently been through a stem cell transplant.
“The virus requires a unified response involving every one of us playing our part. Anthony Nolan is grateful to process equipment which can be used in bolstering the UK’s testing capabilities.”
Anthony Nolan needs to raise an additional £30,000 to cover the cost of increased testing for stem cell donors; and the rising need for patient services, including its patient helpline and patient grants every month that the coronavirus pandemic continues.
Visit www.anthonynolan.org/coronavirusemergencyappeal find out how you can help the charity keep this vital work going.