As part of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)’s ongoing fight against the Covid-19, the first-ever next-generation genome sequencing laboratory in Mumbai was commissioned at the TN Medical College & BYL Nair Charitable Hospital here on Wednesday.
The new laboratory, set up at one of the premier medical institutes in the city in the run up to its centenary that falls on September 4, will enable the BMC to identify variants of Sars-Cov-2 that causes Covid-19.
The new facility can analyse a large number of samples in a short period and also identify mutants, something that will be especially useful in hotspot areas and congested cities.
The next-generation genome sequencing (NGS) is a method of characterisation of pathogens. This technology is used to determine the order of nucleotides in entire genomes or targeted regions of RNA or DNA, which helps in understanding differences between two strains of the virus, thereby identifying mutants. The specialty of NGS is that a large number of samples can be processed in a short period at high speed.
Every batch for testing will comprise 384 samples and results will be declared in four days
Inaugurating the laboratory, Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray said that the facility would go a long way in combating the Covid-19.
“We are currently fighting a war with a hidden enemy like the Coronavirus. The new genome sequencing laboratory will enable detection and treatment of the Covid-19 virus or its incarnations, and even other contagious diseases speedily,” the chief minister said.
The chief minister said that it was very critical to have a virus testing lab in Mumbai to avoid delays in getting the test report which often led to fatalities in the past.
Uddhav said that Nair Hospital, which was set up 100 years ago during the Spanish flu pandemic, was preparing to cater to the health of citizens for another century which is commendable.
Nair Hospital Dean Dr. Ramesh Bharmal said that the genome sequencing laboratory could handle 1,000-cases simultaneously and provide the results within the next few hours.
The entire cost of the equipment and the operating expenses have been raised through donations by a US-company, ATE Chandra Foundation and the TM Nair Medical College Global Alumni Association.
Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar, Municipal Commissioner I. S. Chahal, Public Health Committee Chairperson Rajul Patel, Dr. Shashank Joshi and Dr. Sanjay Oak were among those present at the inaugural
function.