SHILLONG: The Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (DBT-IBSD), a national Institute of Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, has been working in tandem with the Meghalaya Health department to set up a COVID-19 diagnostics facility at Tura.
So far, DBT-IBSD has provided an RT-PCR machine, a refrigerated centrifuge and two deep freezers along with technical support and orientation for the equipment.
“These have been handed over to the state team of doctors and laboratory technicians, who have also been trained on these equipment for COVID-19 testing at the Microbiology Department of NEIGHRIHMS,” a statement from IBSD said on Tuesday.
It may be mentioned that the IBSD has its centre at Upper Shillong while its headquarters is at located at Imphal, Manipur.
With most of the equipment been delivered and installed at Tura over the last two weeks, the Tura facility, according to DBT-IBSD, would be ready to start testing in a few days.
“DBT-IBSD shared these essential equipment in the earlier interim period, to rapidly fill up the gap brought about by the global supply chain crisis in these equipment and consumables, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the present lockdown,” the statement said.
“In similar efforts, DBT-IBSD has also provided both equipment and consumables support to several COVID-19 testing facilities across the Northeastern region, such as JNIMS, Govt of Manipur; RIMS, Imphal, Govt of India; NEIGHRIHMS, Shillong, Government of India; Zoram Medical College, Government of Mizoram and Pasteur Institute, Government of Meghalaya,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, Director of IBSD, Pulok K Mukherjee, has extended his appreciation to the Meghalaya Health department for working tirelessly in their battle against COVID-19 and has also assured full support to the state for any other scientific endeavors amid the crisis.