TN univs asked for lab equipment to help increase COVID testing

The Public Health department has approached seven universities in the State to divert their real-time polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR) equipment which can be used to establish COVID-19 test labs. “These high-end machines, if diverted, will help to diagnose coronavirus during the times of medical emergency,” stated a government circular issued by the Higher Education secretary. It called upon the registrars of TN universities to divert their highend machines to the nearby government hospitals and medical colleges.

A copy of the circular available with DT Next reads that there are 17 RT-PCR equipment facilities in the state. Accordingly, four machines under the Madras University will be diverted to the Directorate of Medical Service, Chennai; Stanley and Kilpauk medical colleges; and Communicable Diseases Hospital, Tondiarpet at the earliest.

The circular also requested the registrars of Madurai Kamaraj University, Periyar University, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Alagappa University, Bharathidasan University and Bharathiyar University to divert the RT-PCR or other model machines to the government medical colleges in Theni, Madurai, Salem, Sivagangai and Coimbatore medical colleges to increase the number of COVID testing centres.

TN, which started with a dozen labs to test COVID-19 cases last month has now doubled the capacity and is planning to open another half a dozen labs, an official said adding the veterinary colleges have also shared their advanced equipment to take up the PCR tests.

“With more than 25,000 cases now under quarantine, the increase in the number of centres will help the early diagnosis of the virus affected,” the official said.

The State had till now placed orders for more than four lakh rapid test kits with China, but uncertainty prevails over the supply from Chinese manufacturers. The first consignment of one lakh kits was expected last week, but with the US procuring and diverting corona drugs and machines, Asian countries including India are at the receiving end, the official added.