Dengue, lepto tests in Mumbai, finally
BMC’s dream come true: Kasturba hospital PCR lab ready, so no need to send
samples to NIV
Swatee Kher
The city is all set to cure a serious deficiency in its medical testing infrastructure as the Kasturba Hospital for Infectious Diseases is ready with its high-tech Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) laboratory for faster and efficient confirmation of leptospirosis and dengue
cases.
The deluge of 26/7, 2005 saw 115 people dying of leptospirosis and 222 of
dengue. At city hospitals during the time, blood samples of suspected
patients were put through clinical rapid tests/enzyme-linked immunosorbent
assay (ELISA) tests which indicate the ailment. But a PCR test, which is
required to confirm the strain and specifics of the ailment, had to be done
elsewhere -samples had to be sent to the National Institute of Virology at
Pune or the Andamans.
It was then that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) decided to set
up a sophisticated molecular testing laboratory in Mumbai. And right now,
the PCR laboratory at Kasturba hospital is finalising its standardisation
process-samples or “assays” are tested repeatedly to ensure conformity in
results-for leptospirosis and dengue. “We are hoping to get the lab started
by the end of March. But yes, this monsoon testing of samples will be
definitely done at Kasturba. We will no longer need to send samples to Pune
or Andamans,” confirmed Dr S G Damle, joint municipal commissioner (medical
education and public health).
PCR-based technology allows detection of DNA or RNA that may be specific for
certain micro-organisms, genes, or gene products. A PCR-based laboratory can
ascertain the specifics.
“We are in the process of standardising the machine,” said Kasturba hospital
medical superintendent Umesh Aigal. “It will be a laboratory for
confirmation of leptospirosis and dengue to begin with.”
Once the test kit and samples are ready, trial runs are needed to be
conducted to standardise the machine . “There is a need to validate the
assays, ie, the same sample is tested over a period of 20 days. The test
results should be the same,” explained Dr Nilesh Shah of Metropolis.
Later, the machine will also be standardised for confirming Japanese
encephalitis and avian influenza (bird flu).
“It is my dream project. I have taken up the matter several times with the
administration. They are delaying the inauguration for no reason,” said BMC
health committee chairperson Mangal Mange. “I hope the laboratory gets
inaugurated by the first week of March.”
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