Thane civic body to set up two labs to check Covid-19 samples

Manoj Badgeri | TNN | Apr 12, 2020, 12:02 IST

Picture for representational purpose only.

THANE: The Thane municipal corporation is soon likely to set up two full-fledged laboratories for analysis of Covid-19 samples right within the city, which will not just reduce the strain on the administration of transporting the same to Mumbai but also reduce the time for generation of reports.
According to a senior official requesting anonymity, the necessary infrastructure that is required to set up a lab for testing possible Covid-19 infections is being worked out and will soon be set up at the Wadia hospital in Tembhi naka and Kalwa hospital. Presently, all the samples are collected at the Civil hospital and collectively taken to JJ hospital in Mumbai for analysis. As many as 44 cases have been detected in the city till now and majority of the samples had to be taken to Mumbai for analysis.
Officials informed that the decision was taken recently and work on installing the adequate infrastructure is also under way along with requisite permissions to operate the facility is also being sought from the ICMR at New Delhi. The corporation is also in the process of securing kits that would be required to conduct the tests.
“We are working on setting up the infrastructure right here in Thane to conduct and analyse the specimens to determine Covid-19 infections. Presently, all the swabs are being sent to Mumbai for analysis which also takes time. The lab will be equipped to conduct nearly 50 tests on a daily basis in Thane,” said Mayor Naresh Mhaske.