SHILLONG: Even as Meghalaya continues to keep its COVID graph remarkably low, there seems to be no let up on efforts to put up a robust health surveillance system in place, especially in respect of testing facility. At least two more testing centres are in the pipeline — at Tura and Pasteur Institute here.
Tura Civil Hospital will be starting RT-PCR tests from Friday and Pasteur Institute will be starting from next week, according to Health Commissioner Sampath Kumar. He told this correspondent here on Thursday that the Health Department had set up labs with bio-safety cabinets.
All clearances have been received from ICMR, New Delhi and the state team is being trained and mentored by Dr AC Phukan, Professor and HOD Microbiology, NEIGRIHMS. He said dry runs have proved satisfactory.
The extension of testing facility at Tura is expected to ease pressure for the lone testing lab at NEIGRIHMS, apart from addressing the logistical problems.
Dr Phukan disclosed that on a particular day he received samples at unearthly 3.38 am from Tura.
But since time is of the essence, the health-care staff in Tura don’t seem to waste even a minute before sending the swabs for testing.
Meanwhile, Nazareth Hospital which had applied for National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) has been granted accreditation for RNA testing. RNA test have been used to test for the novel coronavirus, using a kit that relies on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This sensitive method amplifies SARS-CoV-2 RNA from patient swabs so that tiny amounts of the virus can be detected.
At this point two types of tests have been approved for the detection of COVID-19 — the Nucleic acid amplification tests (molecular tests) — also known as genetic, RNA or PCR tests and the Antibody tests — also known as serology tests.
Informed sources said ICMR has given its approval to Nazareth Hospital to use the GeneXpert platform based PCR testing. Since COVID-19 is RNA virus, ICMR is very strict with maintaining protocols and processes. Nazareth Hospital being a private hospital had to wait for the ICMR approval.
Meanwhile, Chief Medical Officer, Nazareth Hospital Dr Gordon Rangad, said that the Hospital already had acquired the necessary testing equipment and should start operation soon. “We will be getting everything in place soon and will be guided by Government protocols on who we test,” he said.
No change in testing: Govt
The state government has ruled out the possibility of adopting the Andhra Pradesh-model to go for aggressive testing and tracing in the fight against COVID-19 saying the present testing method is good enough.
Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong on Thursday said that there is no point in aggressive testing unless the government strengthens the entry and exit points.
“I don’t think it will help and until and unless we don’t strengthen the entry and exit points, there is no point having aggressive testing,” he said, adding that Meghalaya is the safest state right now by the grace of God.
Tynsong said the present testing for the COVID-19 which the government is doing is good enough.
“But we are not complacent. We will review and take a decision on how to meet the challenges,” he said.
It may be mentioned that the state as of now has sent close to 18,000 samples for testing of COVID in the state.
Tynsong also urged localities to report to the police or to the district administration if they see anybody entering the state.