Noida: Two new machines to scale up testing

NOIDA: With RNA extractor and TrueNat Covid hospitals in the district are planning to introduce quicker means of testing after getting clearance from ICMR.
While RNA extractor is an automated extraction system for viral RNA from nasal swabs and body fluids, TrueNat is a small battery-operated device used for testing of tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS.
The method can generate results anywhere between 30 minutes and 3 hours and be used identify negative results while the remaining numbers can be re-tested for further confirmation.
While GIMS in Greater Noida that has a capacity of 200 tests per day is already using RNA extractor, SSPHPGTI, popularly known as Child PGI, in Sector 30, and Sharda Hospital in Greater Noida have placed their requirements for RNA extractor and TrueNat machines with the state government.
Dr Vivek Gupta, in-charge of Covid laboratory at GIMS claimed to be using the automated RNA extraction process, while SSPHPGTI and Sharda are yet to start the process.
Meanwhile, Dr DK Gupta, director, SSPHPGTI, said: “The state government has sanctioned us a moderate size automated RNA extractor from Kanpur. It will increase the testing capacity to up to 300 per day and expedite sample processing time.”