Mangaluru: Trial run held at new virology lab at Wenlock Hospital

MANGALURU: A trial run was held in the new virology lab at Wenlock Hospital on Wednesday. The lab can help expedite testing for Covid-19 in the district. At present, swabs from patients suspected to have contracted the disease are sent to Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences (HIMS) in Hassan for testing, which is 171 km away. Authorities here must wait for at least 48 hours to receive reports.
Mangaluru City North MLA Dr Y Bharath Shetty, who is also the nodal authority to deal with hospitals in Dakshina Kannada,told reporters that certain changes suggested by the Indian Council for Medical Research (IMCR), for running the lab, have been incorporated, and every effort is being made to obtain certification for it at the earliest.Results of the tests carried out here are being compared with samples sent to HIMS, Dr Shetty said.
The virology lab here has obtained necessary PCR kits needed to carry out the tests, he said, adding the lab has the capacity to conduct an average of 80-100 test per day. Once the testing process at the lab stabilises, and results are in conformity with ICMR laid down guidelines, steps will be taken to obtain certification for it, and reports for swab samples will be obtained locally, he said.
In addition, fever clinics have been started at the four taluk hospitals, eight medical college hospitals and at Wenlock Hospital, he said. “Authorities have kept 100 beds at Wenlock Hospital with 15 ICUs and 2 paediatric ICUs ready to deal with stage one of the pandemic. Physicians and staff from Wenlock and KMC Hospitals will manage this facility, and other medical college hospitals have been placed on standby if the situation aggravates,” Dr Shetty said.
Owners of private hospitals have agreed to provide dialysis service to patients who hitherto depended on Wenlock Hospital for their needs, at rates charged at the government facility. The new block at Wenlock Hospital will be used to quarantine Covid-19 patients on different floors, and adjoining AYUSH block as resting and quarantine facility for doctors. This block will also serve as a store for personal protection equipment for medical professionals, he said.