Panjab University Covid-testing brigade concerned over security

Amarjot Kaur

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 17

To ramp up the testing capacity for Covid-19, the government has identified Panjab University (PU) as one of the testing centres, designed on the Ministry of Science and Technology’s hub-and-spoke healthcare model. The venture will run in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), SAS Nagar, and Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH).

Prof Prince Sharma, Dean of Science, PU, shared: “Volunteers will have to be trained. However, we are yet to find out a methodology. Also, RNA samples don’t pose any risk of infection as the virus is inactive.”

Though the project is in the nascent stage, the director of the IISER and PU’s Dean of Sciences have expressed concern that they have not received testing kits so far. On the other hand, university’s research scholars, who had volunteered to be a part of the Covid-testing brigade, have been concerned over safety, security standards and the availability of equipment at the PU.

How it works

Dr Gowrishankar, IISER’s Director, said the centre had been designed on the Ministry of Science and Technology’s hub-and-spoke healthcare model. “The hub will receive the sample and spokes will help in testing. In the model, IMTECH, which is already involved in the testing of clinical samples of Covid-19, can play the role of a hub. The correspondence was initiated only a couple of days ago, so everything is in a preliminary stage.”

Dr Sanjeev Khosla, director of IMTECH shared: “We will initiate the testing process here. We have all facilities to inactivate the virus, isolate RNA and conduct tests. However, we are still in the arly stages of discussions with stakeholders to start testing. The most important thing is biosafety cabinets. PPE kits are also very important. We have about six to 10 RTPCR machines for testing too.”

As per the model, the hub will inactivate the virus and spokes will provide machine to do the testing and they will provide the machines that will run the data.

At present, ISSER has six RTPCR machines and each has different sample holders and we can run four of them. “We don’t have the facilities to work with infectious virus. What is limiting us is the time required for RNA isolation and availability of kits,” said Dr Gowrishankar.

PU’s role

Prof Kashmir Singh, chairperson of PU’s Department of Biotechnology, said six departments have nine RTPCR machines and the cold storage facility was also available. A pool of 40-50 scholars have volunteered for the testing. However, they are worried over availability of safety equipment.

“I got to know about the apprehensions of students. We have already looked into the possibility of arranging a stay at the hostels for our volunteers. Also, PPE kits will be made available,” said Prof Singh. He added: “We have cold storage facilities and a biosafety cabinets.”

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