Finally, RTMNU also gets ICMR approval to conduct Covid-19 tests
   Date :25-Aug-2020

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Principal Correspondent :
 
Finally, the facility set up by Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University (RTMNU) got approval by Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) to conduct coronavirus tests. The University has begun its functioning on Monday.
 
The examination of throat swab samples would begin on Tuesday. The team of Department of Biotechnology, Microbiology, Biochemistry worked hard for the last two months. It bore the fruits and now Nagpur’s administration got another laboratory to its kitty. The team was formed under the leadership of Dr Arti Shanware, Director of Rajiv Gandhi Biotechnology Centre (RGBC) along with faculties of RGBC, Department of Biochemistry and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
 
The team included many illustrious names such as Dr Manoj Rai, RUSA Coordinator; Dr Rajendra Kakde, RUSA Coordinator; Dr Archana Moon of Biochemistry Department, Dr Nishikant Raut of Pharmacy Department, Dr Vijay Tangde of Chemistry Department and Dr Abhay Deshmukh of Physics Department. Later, Dr Nishikant Raut was appointed as Nodal Officer for the COVID-19 Diagnosis Centre. This team came up with new facility in record time for testing COVID-19 samples at its campus. ICMR has approved this laboratory for carrying out tests by RT-PCR method.
 
The laboratory has been established in four rooms of the Commerce Department dedicated exclusively for the lab. This is an entirely new set up complete with all the necessary instrument and equipment including Bio-safety cabinet level 2 (BSL-2), RT-PCR machine, -80 and -20 deep freezers, cooling centrifuge etc., which were procured from the various departments and agencies. BSL-2 and RT-PCR are the most important equipment for the testing of corona virus. As the set up was entirely new, the team faced several hurdles and challenges while commissioning the laboratory during the lockdown.
 
Four technicians, two data entry operators and one medical microbiologist have been recruited by the office of Civil Surgeon and District Nodal Officer-COVID-19, Nagpur. All the technicians, medical microbiologist and Nodal Officer have undergone training of COVID-19 testing at AIIMS Nagpur. This is the sixth laboratory in the city. 
 
New V-C creates positivism The laboratory of RTMNU came into being because of the aggressive initiative taken by Dr Murlidhar Chandekar, Vice-Chancellor, Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University. But it did not get approval till the end of Dr Chandekar’s tenure as acting Vice Chancellor. The laboratory became functional when Dr Subhash Chaudhari took charge as Vice-Chancellor. Showing magnanimous approach, Dr Chaudhari took decision to inaugurate the laboratory at the hands of Dr Chandekar who was instrumental in setting up the laboratory. Dr Chandekar was scheduled to leave for Amravati on Monday so Dr Chaudhary hurriedly got the laboratory opened.