A sample testing centre for the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) started functioning from Tuesday at the microbiology department of the Pt Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Medical College in Raipur.
On first day of its functioning, 22 swab samples were tested, a top official at the medical facility said
Head of microbiology department at the medical college Dr Arvind Neral, said that maintaining all the technical protocol and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) guidelines, the sample testing facility at the medical college was set up within 4 to 5 days.
The sample testing facility has a real time polymerase chain reaction machine (RT-PCR), three bio-safety cabinets (BSCs), three laminar air flow cabinets, minus 80 degree and minus 20 degree Centigrade refrigerators and other equipment, Neral said.
Based on the ICMR classification of BSL2 Lab, in future, it can also be used for other viral diseases testing, he said.
Dr Neral further said that under the universal protocol, individual security and safety equipment is also being provided to those involved in testing.
“Those who are testing cannot leave the lab until the entire probe is conducted. They will then have to stay for 14 days quarantine, and then go home, he said
A16-member team of microbiologists, scientists, lab technicians and lab assistants have been constituted, to work in two shifts and all the tests are conducted free of cost, he added.