Now, SVIMS to conduct coronavirus tests; receives 200 kits from NIV Pune

By Newsmeter Network  Published on  7 March 2020 1:07 PM GMT
Now, SVIMS to conduct coronavirus tests; receives 200 kits from NIV Pune

Tirupati: Now, the SVIMS (Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences) is going to conduct coronavirus tests for suspected cases across the 13 districts of Andhra Pradesh. SVIMS, the only nodal centre for Andhra Pradesh, on Friday evening had received 200 test kits from the Pune-based National Institute of Virology. "Hereafter, there is no need to send the samples to Hyderabad and Pune for confirmation. But the result will be shared with the NIV for final confirmation in case of a positive result," said the officials.

Virology Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL) of the Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences (SVIMS), which is located in Tirupati, is the only identified Nodal Centre for performing diagnosis of Coronavirus for the entire state.

A 6-member-team, including three senior and three junior faculty members, who are experts in dealing with the cases of viral epidemics, have been formed for quick diagnosis of the virus. The team was also trained in specimen processing which is the primary part of the analysis.

On Friday evening, the SVIMS had received two samples from people who had visited the Netherlands and Kuwait for the diagnosis of the virus. They had reportedly showed symptoms of COVID-19, with cough and cold, and had got admitted in Tirupati Ruia Hospital. Normally, it takes around 7 hours for the diagnosis of the samples. The collected samples from the persons would be sent for specimen processing that takes 3 hours primarily. Further, the samples would be sent to a Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) which takes another 3 hours.

After collecting the two reports, they would be combined and documentation would be prepared, and it requires a minimum time of one hour. Finally, the Computer-Generated Report would be sent to the National Institute of Virology, Pune, for a final decision. Medical experts at the NIV will confirm the final report submitted by the VRDL for further action, with a special focus in case of a positive result.

Two persons who joined the isolation ward at S.V.R. Ruia Government General Hospital in Tirupati on Friday evening were found to be negative. After getting the results from the Virology Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL) of SVIMS hospital, Ruia hospital sources confirmed the tests were negative, who heaved a sigh of relief. The two persons would be kept under observation for the next two days and then they would be discharged from the hospital.

Another two suspected cases of coronavirus joined the Ruia Hospital in Tirupati on Saturday. They were from Singapore and Germany. The samples have been collected and the results would get ready by tomorrow evening, according to Dr NV Ramanaiah, Medical Superintendent.

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