Samples for Covid-19 test here in Palamu division are no longer sent to RIMS in Ranchi.

Its testing has started in the Palamu medical college which has been dedicated by the chief minister Hemant Soren to history fame Raja Medinirai and now this medical college is to be known as Medinirai medical College (MMC). Soren made this announcement on August 15. Deputy Commissioner of Palamu Shashi Ranjan said, “Covid-19 test has begun in this college from August 13. The first lot of samples sent here was of 149 suspects. Thereafter another lot of 89 more samples were tested.”

Ranjan said, “The start of test for Covid here has spared our medical team a lot of pain and problem in sending the samples to RIMS Ranchi.”

Civil surgeon Palamu John F Kennedy said, “Samples are collected in Palamu medical college hospital. From here it is sent to the medical college at Pokhraha.” Kennedy said the samples are sent in ‘cold chain’ through ‘vaccine courier’.

Virology and Covid 19 Diagnostic lab was e - inaugurated by the chief minister Hemant Soren on July 29 but the testing of the samples for Covid 19 started only on August 13 as there is a long drawn procedure for start of test which is mandated to be cleared by AIMS Raipur and Indian Council of Medical Researcg (ICMR).

Districts of Garhwa and Latehar too will be sending here their samples for Covid 19 test. Kennedy said the average test rate in Palamu is 340 a day for Covid 19.The estimated cost of this lab here is worth 2.50 crore.

Principal of this medical college Jyoti Ranjan Prasad said there is a viral lab committee chaired by head of the department of pathology Dr Kamender Prasad which keeps a tab on the functioning of the lab here.

Prasad said the tests will be conducted through RT PCR.