In view of the increasing number of people requiring tests for coronavirus, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has designated Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Srinagar and Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu as testing centres, part of its network of laboratories across India.
The Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL) at SKIMSis being equipped with reagents and other materials to facilitate testing forcoronavirus in Kashmir
division. Department of Microbiology, SKIMS, which runs theVRDL, will be responsible for testing samples received from healthcareestablishments across Kashmir. The lab is part of the network of 19 labs beingallocated across India by ICMR to decongest the existing laboratories that aregetting overwhelmed with the volume of tests required.
Head, Department of Microbiology, Dr Bashir AFomda said thatthe “process of procuring coronavirus testing centre” was going on.”There are some formalities that we need to fulfil. They will send ussamples as controls and we will begin from there,” he said. He added thatthe process would take “one or two days.”
In Jammu, GMC will be equipped with testing paraphernaliafor coronavirus.
Until now, samples from J&K were being sent to NationalInstitute of Virology SKIMS and AIIMS New Delhi.
The other centres that are coming up as coronavirus testinglabs are PGIMER Chandigarh, SN Medical College Jodhpur, RNRIS Patna, GMCAmritsar, RNRC Dibrugarh, among others.
Currently, 13 centres are doing coronavirus tests in India.
Meanwhile, one more person admitted as a suspected case ofcoronavirus has tested negative, while result of one more test is awaited.”Currently, five people are admitted at SKIMS, four of which have testednegative,” DrShafqat Khan, Officer on Special Duty J&K Health andMedical Education department said. Thedeadly virus has killed over 3000 across the globe and 31 people have beenfound positive for coronavirus in India, 28 of them in the past three days,creating fears of its fast spread.
As part of its response to the emerging situation, J&Khas beefed up exercise to create isolation for suspected cases. Director healthservices Kashmir, DrSumirMattoo, said that all district hospitals will haveisolation facilities while Sanat Nagar maternity hospital, JLNM Hospital andhealth centre Noor Bagh would also house isolation wards. At GMC Srinagar,Chest Diseases Hospital, GB Pant Hospital and SMHS Hospital will have isolationfacilities.
Prof Samia Rashid, Principal of the medical college saidthat efforts were also being made to make coronavirus testing possible at H1N1lab of the college. “We are approaching ICMR to provide us kits andtraining to do tests,” she said.