Donalam steel plant, one of the largest employers in Calarasi County, has purchased and donated a Real Time PCR analyzer worth 20,000 Euro to Calarasi County Hospital in order to meet the testing requirements for COVID-19 infection.

The hospital had only one equipment for PCR testing, the need for a new analyzer being essential in the context of the growing demand for testing to identify patients infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

“In the current crisis situation, it is vital to show solidarity and social involvement in order to overcome these difficulties, which affect all of us. We are together with the community from Călărași, the place where we carry out our activity, and we want to contribute to its health and well-being. Thus, we could not remain indifferent to the request of the Calarasi County Hospital to purchase this equipment necessary for the community. The PCR equipment facilitates the increase of patients’ testing capacity at the local level, supporting all the efforts made by the authorities to limit the spread of the virus and help the health system cope with the pandemic period “, said Carlo Beltrame, CEO Donalam.

The RT-PCR test is the standard method for identifying patients infected with the new coronavirus and is indicated for people suspected of being infected or carriers, as well as for different categories of patients, before hospitalization or treatment. It detects the SARS-CoV-2 virus by molecular biology techniques, with high accuracy, even if the virus is present in the body in very low concentrations. The RT-PCR test is performed in the laboratory of the Calarasi County Hospital, and the result is available in a maximum of 72 hours.

Donalam produces hot rolled steel in round profiles, being the only steel mill in Romania specialized on this type of product. Most of the production is export-oriented, being used in industries such as oil and gas, agricultural machinery and equipment, large mechanical equipment and hydraulic equipment.