State to get three new RT-PCR sample test labs by month-end

LUCKNOW: The RT-PCR sample test in Uttar Pradesh is likely to get boost with the start of three new labs by the month end.

Additional chief secretary, health and family welfare, Amit Mohan Prasad on Monday said three new laboratories were being set up at Ballia, Jaunpur and Pratapgarh districts for the sample test of suspected Covid-19 patients.

The laboratories will start testing samples by end of the month, he said. The start of the new laboratories in the backward districts will help patients in getting the sample test fast and will also assist the department in checking the spread of the coronavirus infection.

CM Yogi Adityanath had directed the health department to increase the sample test, particularly the RT-PCR test considered the gold standard of the Covid 19 testing. The department was also directed to set up laboratories in all the 75 districts.

The department is testing around 1.50 lakh samples daily out of which around 50,000 samples are tested with RT-PCR machine in the laboratories across the state. On Sunday, 1,35,990 samples were tested taking the total tally of samples tested in the state to 86.76 lakh.

A health department official said, Uttar Pradesh started the fight against Covid-19 with a single laboratory in King George’s Medical University (KGMU) by testing just 72 samples on March 23. Now, the state has over 234 laboratories in government and private sectors.

The 34 RT-PCR laboratories in government sector and 10 RT-PCR laboratories in private sector are testing 50,000 samples daily. The state’s 14 medical colleges and institutes have RT-PCR labs.