An RT-PCR laboratory for testing samples of COVID-19, in Ernakulam. File
| Photo Credit: Thulasi Kakkat
ICMR issues guideline on preserving samples for research
The Centre has has inducted 11 more COVID-19 testing labs in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of diagnostic labs to 1,047. This includes 760 in the government sector and 287 private labs, said the Union Health Ministry on Monday.
Coronavirus, June 29 updates | State Helpline numbers for COVID-19
Currently, there are 567 Real-Time PCR-based testing labs (Govt.: 362 + Private: 205), 393 TrueNat based testing labs (Govt.: 366 + Private: 27) and 87 CBNAAT based testing labs (Govt: 32 + Private: 55). The total number of samples tested is rising and had touched 83,98,362. On Sunday 1,70,560 samples were tested, according to data released by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
A senior ICMR official said the Council has also released “Guidelines for storage of respiratory specimens collected for COVID-19 diagnosis by RT-PCR platforms in government laboratories”, aimed at ensuring safety and quality control.
The Council noted that in the on-going laboratory testing for COVID-19 diagnosis, clinical specimens or a subset of the clinical specimens may need to be ret