Kasauli Central Research Institute requests administration for more staff

Tribune News Service

Solan, May 15

The Central Research Institute (CRI), Kasauli, has demanded additional staff and equipment, including an RT-PCR machine, to enhance its testing capacity.

Being the lone facility in the district for RT-PCR tests, it receives an overwhelming number of samples on a daily basis. The institute tests about 600 to 700 samples on a daily basis with two machines provided by the state government last year. At times, samples from Kangra and Una are also sent to the lab for its early results.

“The institute staff was asked to ramp up its testing capacity to 1,000 tests per day in view of the surge in cases. Increased testing can help contain the pandemic by early detection of the virus,” said Deputy Commissioner (DC), Solan, KC Chaman.

The CRI has sent a request for one RT-PCR machine, deep freezer, centrifuge machine and other paraphernalia, besides about 16 persons for data entry and lab work to the district administration. The highest number of 1,116 samples were tested in one day on Thursday.

“A team of about 22 persons are engaged in daily testing and 10 to 12 staffers are deputed from other departments when more samples are to be tested. The work continues till wee hours as efforts are being made to provide the test results the next day,” said Dr Ajay Tehlan, Director, CRI.

The Deputy Commissioner said that the institute should be given permission to appoint the requisite staff on the outsourced basis.