Kolkata: Covid testing laboratory felt hot because the number of samples to test suddenly soared.
Health officials on Monday told laboratory governments to increase tests, asking for personal to take samples in capacity.
Referrals are issued as complaints poured that some laboratories do not provide test results within 24 hours.
The Ministry of Health has asked all laboratories to open on Sundays too.
The amount of sample improvement to be tested during the increasing case of infection among laboratory workers has caused facilities to feel extraordinary pressure.
“The pressure suddenly increased from Monday, when we got more than 400 samples, including about 300 of our OPD.
We know this will come after a festive orange party.
Even though there is a capacity to run 550 samples a day, we will, for now , limiting up to 450 in dealing with labor problems so we can provide results within 24 hours, “said Bhaskar Narayan Chaudhuri’s microbiologist, attached to the Covid lab at Peerless Hospital.
Laboratories have handled more than 600 samples on certain days during the second wave.
But over the past few months, it has tested only 30 to 40 samples a day.
“If the need arises, we can increase our capacity outside 400 by adding a shift to run the test,” said Sudipta Mitra, CEO, Leeran Hospital.
Samples in the private lab have risen three-four times in a matter of several days.
“The number of samples coming to our lab is more than double what we handle a week ago,” said Belle Vue Clinic CEO Pradip Tondaon.
The source at Amri Hospital said the center lab in the Dhakuria unit was under extraordinary pressure and has decided to handle a maximum of 400 samples a day.
“We intend to climb the test to around 80,000 a day.
We got a report that some laboratories took 48 to 72 hours to give results because they collected more samples than they could handle.
The government laboratory will do more tests,” said a health official.
Most of the laboratories attached by teaching medical colleges in Kolkata can test 1,000-1,500 samples every day.
This has been told to test patients from OPDs and emergencies.