The newly established RT-PCR Lab started function at Maternal and Child care Hospital, Gandhi Nagar Jammu on Friday.It is the 7th COVID testing molecular diagnostic lab in Jammu region established and mentored by the Department of microbiology, Government Medical College Jammu.On the first day, 317 tests were done and 40 samples were found positive. The lab has a capacity of thousand tests per day which can be increased to 2000 tests per day as per the requirement.Under the guidance of Dr. Shashi Sudhan Sharma, Principal GMC Jammu and Principal Investigator and Nodal Officer of VRDL ICMR- DHR LAB, the Department of Microbiology has increased the testing of COVID-19 samples manifold during the last 6 months. Dr. Sudhan said that these Covid-19 testing facilities will help to ramp up testing capacity in the Jammu region. These labs will also reduce turn-around-time. “Our staff is working day and night for the benefit of public interest,” she added.It is pertinent to mention here that this will greatly benefit the general public because the tests which are expensive in private labs will be free in this lab.
