The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will set up a laboratory for genome sequencing at Mumbai’s Kasturba Hospital. Valued at ₹6.5 crores, the genome sequencing equipment finally reached the city after a significant delay. The lab will be up and running in the first week of August after testing.
A dedicated genome sequencing lab will help civic authorities trace existing COVID-19 variants and also offer information on emerging variants of the virus. This comes as several new cases of the Delta and Delta Plus variants have been identified across India over the past few months.
Also read - BMC Says Identification Of 'Delta Plus' Variant Likely To Increase In Mumbai
The decision to get its own genome sequencing lab is justified given that the civic body had to wait four months to get back results from national laboratories. As per reports by the National Institute of Virology, Pune, two cases of the Delta variant were identified in Mumbai.
“Both the cases were reported in April-May. If we get the results early, more effective treatment can be provided, as well as we can contain the spread of the virus,” a senior BMC officer explained. The civic body has found more than 700 suspected samples of the Delta variant so far.
Additional Municipal Commissioner of the BMC, Suresh Kakani said, “The machine to be used for genome sequencing was delayed but now it has arrived in the city. We will do some testing and expect to start the lab in the first week of August.”
It is learnt that the equipment for the new laboratory had to be imported from the United States. However, the consignment was stuck in Singapore due to COVID-related restrictions.
The new lab at Kasturba Hospital will deliver results in just 2-3 days. Kakani further said that the lab will also be crucial in identifying newer mutations or variants of the virus.
Read - No Need To Fear The Delta Plus Variant Of COVID-19: Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope
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