NBMCH lab No 1 in state Covid tests

SANKHA GHOSH, SNS, SILIGURI, 28 MAY 2020: The Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL) at the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital (NBMCH) has been conducting the highest number of Covid- 19 tests in the state. The feat comes even though hundreds of samples are awaiting tests, given the rush given rise by the huge influx of migrant workers and others returning to the region.

The health department is hopeful that the pace of Covid 19 testing at the VRDL can be increased following the installation of some more euipment like the utomatic RNA extraction machine.

The machine, which has now been installed at the VRDL, will be functional within a few days, sources said, adding that the infrastructure constraints had added to the test backlog.

There are only two VRDLs in north Bengal, with the other one in Malda. The laboratory here receives samples from the Hills, Jalpaiguri,Alipurduar, and Cooch Behar districts too.

After becoming functional on 29 March, the laboratory has tested 25,426 samples until today. The VRDL conducted 1020 tests in the last 24 hours alone.

"For the past few days, the VRDL is occupying the first position in Covid tests in the entire state, as compared to testing facilities like the ICMR-NICED. the Institute of Post-Graduate Medical Education and Research (IPGME&R) and the SSKM hospital," sources said.

The method of tests is real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).The lab has two RT-PCR machines and one more will be brought soon, it is learnt. There are more than lO persons working as research scientists and technicians at the VRDL and they are led by the principal examiner and head of the department of microbiology, Prof Arunava Sarkar.Sources at the department said that the test results for the (districts would take two- three days, but that efforts had been been made to issue the reports within 24 hours.

Meanwhile, tourism minister Gautam Deb today felicitated the lab technicians for their tireless efforts and to encourage them further.

"The VRDL stood number one in the state and fifth in the country in terms of number of tests. Technical persons are carrying out the tests efficiently. In north Bengal, especially in Siliguri, government doctors are ensuring best possible treatment for Covid-19 patients." Mr Deb said.

NBMCH principal Prof Prabir Kumar Deb said an automatic RNA extraction machine had been installed today.

"The VRDL here receives around 2000-2500 samples daily, and more than 1000 tests are conducted on an average daily. The machine extracts ribonucleic acid. So far the RNA extraction is done manually, but now onwards the process can be conducted automatically. The automatic machine will help increase the testing capacity," sources said.