Bengaluru: recent communication from the center to the country, which said the sequensing genome can be done only in the laboratory approved by the Indian SARS-COV-2 genomic consortium (Insacog), has left Karnataka in place.
Only two laboratories in Karnataka – each at the National Center for Biology (NCBS) and Nimhans – have been approved by Insacog.
However, with the detection of omicron variants, the plan is to do all the genome sequencing (WGS) in international travelers, in addition to all cases in cluster groups and random infections from the community.
This means that the burden on the laboratory will rise.
During the second wave peak, the state government has announced that it will establish six laboratory genomic sequencies in government medical colleges throughout the state – Mysore, Bengaluru, Shivamogga, Hubballi, Mangaluru and Vijayapura.
In the last week of November, he had completed the procurement of equipment for four laboratories at the Government Medical College – Hassan, Baharavavi, MySuru, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical College (Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital) in Bengaluru.
This must now be approved by the Insacog.
“With the center that issued a new guideline, the state government will ask for approval to conduct sequencing genomes in these four medical colleges,” said D Randeep, a health commissioner.
The Health Office authority said at least 30 samples were sent for the genome sequence every day to detect virus variants circulating in the state.
While only two labs have approval, four government centers do WGS.
The Laboratory at the center of Jawaharlal Nehru for further scientific research (JNCASR) was attached to Nimhans, and the IISC lab attached to the National Biological Center.
“The burden is not too high now because the case is low.
And even among samples, which qualifies for even less WGS,” said Virologist Dr.
V Ravi, who is also a Nodal officer and state chairman, the committee for the sequencing of the entire Covid-19 genome.
Only swab samples with cycle threshold (CT) value below 25 are qualified for genome sequencing, because the viral load is higher in the sample with a low CT value.
The CT value shows the number of cycles in the RT-PCR test needed to strengthen the virus RNA to reach the detected level.
“Equipment has been installed in four districts and staff now need to be trained,” said Dr.
Ravi.
“It requires two technicians, a scientist and data entry operator.
I’m not sure whether the recruitment and appointment has been done.
They must be trained at least for a week at NCBS.” Go with the new rules of the center, the country cannot send samples to the order of the genome in the laboratory Private like a molecular solution and a biosciences strand.
Both of these labs have done WGS on random samples from private hospitals and several samples from BBMP PHCS Pro Bono.
“We have been seeking recognition for these two labs,” said Randeep.