4 new labs to raise daily testing by 4,000

CHANDIGARH: Punjab medical education and research department has set up four new covid testing labs to enhance the total daily testing capacity by 4,000 tests. The labs will be fully operation by September 2020 with 1,000 tests per day per lab. In addition, the viral testing capacity in three Medical Colleges at Patiala, Amritsar and Faridkot would also be ramped up to 5,000 tests per day per college by August 31.

A spokesperson said the initiative would help fight the pandemic in a much better manner, as early diagnosis is a key to contain and curb the spread of the disease.

Medical education and research principal secretary DK Tiwari added that Guru Angad Dev Veternary and Animal Science University, Ludhiana, had already operationalised its labs on August 5, with a capacity of 100 tests per day, which would be further increased to 1000 tests per day by in September.

A Forensic Sciences Lab in Mohali will start its operations on August 10 (Monday) with a starting capacity of 100 tests per day ramping up to 250 by August 30 and going up to 1,000 tests per day by in September. Punjab Biotechnology Incubator would start its operations on August 10 (Monday) with an initial capacity of 100 tests per day and going up to 250 by August 25 and 1,000 tests in September.

The Regional Disease Diagnostic Lab in Jalandhar would start with a capacity of 25 tests per day ramping up to 250 by August 20 and increasing up to 1,000 tests per day in September. To date, over 6.15 lakh tests had been done in state, with around Rs 14.5 crore spent on procurement of equipment for virology labs.