The Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH), Chandigarh is all set to start a whole genome sequencing lab within a week. The samples are meanwhile sent to NCDC Delhi for whole-genome sequencing and Chandigarh Administration requires a lab in the city because the region is having patients from neighboring states and people from different nations keep coming as well.
So far there are more than 350 people came to Chandigarh from different nations and one person was tested positive with the Omicron variant of the Covid-19.
Prof Surjit Singh told The Daily Guardian, “As Whole-genome sequencing for Covid is not in the mandate of PGI, and the institute is also a host of other services related to patient care, with our OPD numbers very high. And PGI has also been taking care of mentoring and training for doctors across the region”. Adding further, Prof Singh said that genome sequencing for other diseases in the pediatrics department is being done for more than 13 years now.
The Daily Guardian spoke to Dr. Sanjeev Khosla Director IMTECH on this, and he said, “IMTECH is part of INSACOG, which is mandated to carry out genome sequencing for studying the virus variations of the circulating SARS-CoV-2 strains in India. IMTECH is all equipped and ready to carry out whole genome sequencing of the samples as and when received from the Chandigarh administration and neighboring states. We have already informed the Chandigarh administration about our willingness and capabilities.”
“It usually takes a minimum of seven days to process the samples for whole genome sequencing,” he added.