IIT Mandi sets up real-time lab for COVID-19 diagnosis in Himachal

NEW DELHI: The Indian Institute of Technology Mandi (IIT Mandi) will set up a real-time laboratory for diagnosing COVID-19 cases at a nearby government medical college in Himachal Pradesh.

IIT Mandi has signed an agreement with Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Government Medical College & Hospital (SLBSGMCH) to set up the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) laboratory.

The real-time PCR reactor and data analysis are considered crucial for diagnosing COVID-19 and in speeding up the testing process.

“The PCR machine can analyse 100 samples for the detection of COVID-19, if run for 24 hours continuously. The capacity can be increased to 1000 samples per day,” said an official statement of IIT Mandi.

Under the agreement, IIT Mandi has provided a real-time PCR machine along with other equipment and trained personnel to the hospital.

The premier engineering institute will also conduct a training session for SLBSGMCH on how to use the lab and do data analysis.

SLBSGMCH will start analysing the COVID-19 samples as soon as it gets an approval from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

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• India’s coronavirus lockdown extended to May 3, 2020: PM Modi

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