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Rochester, MN (KROC AM News) - Mayo Clinic’s significant role in Minnesota’s COVID-19 testing program ironically began where the virus was first identified - China.

The head of Mayo Clinic Laboratories gave a news media briefing on the testing program and related issues Monday.

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Dr. William Morice told reporters Mayo was able to get early insight into the virus thanks to its joint venture with the Chinese firm WuXi Diagnostics. The partnership was set up to provide laboratory testing to Chinese patients. Morice says because of the partnership, Mayo became aware of the spreading virus in January.

He said this gave Mayo a head start in developing its own test for the virus which it knew would be needed for its patients.

Morice says its testing capacity at its Rochester campus has grown from a few thousand per day in the early days of the pandemic to around 20,000 today.

Morice says Mayo and others have made great strides in developing Covid tests but there is still work to be done.

 

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