RTMNU’s Covid-19 testing lab ready at Commerce Deptt
   Date :26-Jun-2020

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Principal Correspondent :
 
Awaits last inspection by approving agency
 
Many good things are taking place in Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University (RTMNU) after Dr Murlidhar Chandekar took over as Vice Chancellor. It was he who initiated the idea of developing coronavirus testing laboratory at the University and the dream is coming true. After passing all hurdles, now RTMNU is waiting for one inspection by an approving agency, once it is conducted the laboratory will start conducting the examinations of samples for coronavirus.
 
The laboratory earlier was to be set up at the building of Rashtriya Uchchstar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) situated near Computer Science Department. But Dr Chandekar felt the laboratory might get surrounded by several departments and become crowded. So, he decided to shift it to Commerce Department which is behind the Post Graduate Department of Home Science. Accordingly three departments which have relation with the testing including Biotechnology, Biochemistry and Pharmacy were brought together.
 
The team headed by Dr Arti Shanware, Director of Rajiv Gandhi Biotechnology Centre; with Dr Archana Moon of Post Graduate Department of Biochemistry; Dr Rajendra Kakde, Dr Nishikant Raut of Post Graduate Department of Pharmacy; Dr Manoj Rai, heading unit of Rashtriya Uchhastar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) as the members formed. A proposal of ‘Establishing nCoV-19 Diagnostic Center’ at RTMNU got approval from Dr Chandekar. Four rooms in Department of Commerce were dedicated for conducting the tests. The proposal had gone through Collector, Divisional Commissioner who after suggesting certain changes gave approval. The laboratory has one RT PCR machine at present. University requested Divisional Commissioner to get one more.
 
It has made all minute compliances. RT PCR is the most important diagnostic equipment as far as the test of coronavirus is concerned. The four technicians required to examine the throat swab samples for coronavirus have been sent for training at the most trusted laboratory at Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital (IGGMCH), the mentor All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and National Environmental and Engineering Research Institute (NEERI). After the training now RTMNU possessed a skilled manpower. IGGMCH has given a nod to the RTMNU’s RT PCR machines as far as their compatibility is concerned.
 
The laboratory is ready, equipment are well-set, skilled manpower too is preapared. Vice-Chancellor has principally given nod to render financial assistance to the said proposal. According to sources the approval is about to be received by RTMNU. If that is done then it would be sixth laboratory in the city apart from Dhruv Pathology which is in private set-up. The other five laboratories in Government set-up are IGGMCH, Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Centre of Zonosis of Nagpur Veterinary College affiliated to Maharashtra Animal and Fisheries Sciences University (MAFSU), AIIMS and NEERI. 9 more test positive for COVID-19 With nine testing positive for novel coronavirus in Nagpur, the cumulative number reached 1,353. The samples were examined at diagnostic laboratory of National Environmental and Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), virology laboratory of Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital (IGGMCH), Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), private laboratories.
 
 
800 coronavirus recovery cases With a good number of 41 persons becoming coronavirus-free at Nagpur, the total recovery crossed 800 mark on Thursday. The cumulative total reached 834. On June 21, the number of recovered crossed 700 mark. The last 100 came in just four days as on Thursday, June 25, the number of recovery touched 800. Recovery of first 100 came nearly after a month of discharge of first patient. The number reached 200 within next three days while it took five days to reach 300 mark. But the rate has slowed down after it crossed 300 mark, after passage of 14 days, the recovery number crossed 400 mark. It took 9 days for the number of recovered to cross 500. After passage of four days the city reached 674 (crossed 600 mark) while within the next two days, it crossed the 700 mark which was with much faster rate.
 
800 become coronavirus-free
 
 
Principal Correspondent
 
Though Nagpur is registering novel coronavirus positive cases on regular basis, the positivism about it is the recovery rate too is high. On Wednesday, the city witnessed coronavirus positive cases touching 1,300 mark, on Thursday the number of cases recovered too reached 800. While 9 from the city tested positive for coronavirus, 41 persons got discharge from three hospitals of Nagpur.
 
On Thursday, 41 persons were discharged taking the total of recovered to 834. Out of the 41 recovered, 23 were discharged from Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), 13 were under treatment at Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital (IGGMCH) and 5 were at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Nagpur.
 
The total recovery reached 834 out of which the recovery of IGGMCH reached 449, from Government Medical College and Hospital 307 while AIIMS figure stands at 55. Those recovered from AIIMS Nagpur are all from Naik Talao including 4 men and one woman. The residents of Hingna, Naik Talao, Fish Market, Bijli Mangalwari, Bhui Pura, Chandramani Nagar were under treatment at IGGMCH while those discharged from GMCH are the residents of Tandapeth, Narsala, Chandramani Nagar, Pachpaoli, Sawarbandhe Layout, Paramit Heights, Cement Road, Dharampeth; Bhagwan Nagar, Anaj Bazar, Itwari; Varangaon, Hingna; Raj Kamal Chowk, Vishvakarma Nagar; Amar Nagar, Hingna. 
 
Byramji Town is not sealed On the front page of CityLine dated June 25, a photo of Byramji Town area was published. It carried a caption that the area was sealed. The area has not been sealed by Nagpur Municipal Corporation yet. Error is regretted. -- Editor.