DFRL sets up mobile containment laboratory at KR hosptial

Mysuru: The Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL) and Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), Mysuru, have jointly developed an innovative state-of-the-art mobile microbial containment (BSL-3) laboratory named ‘Parakh.’. Any virus or bacteria can be tested in this mobile lab and every day 300 to 400 Covid-19 tests can also be conducted in the laboratory.
Now, with this facility, the Covid-19 testing capacity in Mysuru district has doubled. The mobile lab is stationed at KR Hospital where tests are already conducted.
Parakh is a fully autonomous containment laboratory built on ISO 20-feet container and mounted on a truck. It adheres to Class ISO 7 and operates with negative pressure to handle clinical, food and environmental samples during biological emergency without any risk to people and environment. It is equipped with dynamic pass box for transferring the samples directly to Class-III biosafety cabinet in a safe manner.
On Monday, Anil Dutt Semwal, director, DFRL handed over the mobile lab to Dr CP Nanjaraj, director and dean, Mysore Medical College and Research Institute (MMCRI).
“The health authorities had requested for this sort of facility. It is very safe. The person who conducts the tests and the environment remain safe. Any virus can be tested in this laboratory. The lab has been provided with PCR work station, real time PCR machine, incubator, deep freezer and refrigerator for testing samples and storing reagents with provision for treatment of liquid effluents, safe storage of solid bio-hazard wastes and decontamination by autoclaving. It also has provision for storing and donning PPE; storage of used aprons along with emergency body shower and eye wash. The mobile lab is equipped with captive and raw power supply. Parakh has air bellow suspension to reduce vibration during transport and air compressor for inflating tyres,” said Semwal.
“With this mobile lab, the testing capacity has doubled in Mysuru. Earlier, we used to test 300 to 400 people per day. Now we can add another 300 to 400 tests per day, taking the overall testing capacity in the district to 600 to 700,” said Dr Nanjaraj.