As another private lab gets approval, Nagpur can now test 1,950 samples in a day

Nagpur: Second private laboratory in Nagpur has received an approval to conduct Covid-19 tests on Saturday. In addition to this, the Government Medical College Hospital (GMCH) Nagpur has now involved RT-PCR Abbott Machine under NACO Project for Covid-19 testing which has increased its capacity from 300 to 750. With this, Nagpur’s total capacity of Covid-19 tests has raised to 1,950 per day now.
Dr Rajkumar Rathi’s Clinicare Speciality lab in Lata Mangeshkar Hospital (LMH) has received approval from mentoring institute AIIMS Nagpur on June 6. “We have been approved to carry out Covid-19 tests using TrueNat technology. Our focus will be on the same-day reporting. The lab will follow price restrictions as per ICMR rules,” said Dr Rathi while speaking with TOI.
As per new guidelines, the patients referred by registered medical practitioner for Covid-19 tests can present themselves to private lab and submit their samples. The test costs Rs4,500 per sample.
The GMCH Nagpur has now started using RT-PCR Machine Abbott company which was received under NACO Project. This machine can conduct 450 tests per day.
“With increase in number of positive Covid-19 cases in Nagpur and in Vidarbha, it was need of time to increase the testing capacity of the lab,” said GMCH Dean Dr Sajal Mitra. Secretary of state Medical Education and Drugs Department Dr Sanjay Mukherjee and Director of DMER Dr T P Lahane instructed using this RT-PCR Abbott Machine which was initially brought to the GMCH through NACO Project for HIV testing.
“Kits necessary for Covid-19 testing using this machine were arranged through Chief Minister’s Fund. We received kits on May 30 and started using Abbott machine. This machine is available only in Mumbai, Pune, Aurangabad, Dhule and Nagpur. Testing capacity of this machine is 450 per day,” Dr Mitra added. With this, GMCH can now test upto 750 samples per day, which is so far highest for any lab in Vidarbha region.
According to doctors, the Abbott machine is more accurate for viral load testing and provides fast results. The VRDL Lab in GMCH is testing samples from Nagpur as well as from Gadchiroli, Bhandara, Gondia and Chandrapur. On an average, they are testing 500 samples a day.