Mangaluru: To avoid a delay in the Covid-19 testing process, and to lower the burden on the RT-PCR lab in Wenlock District Hospital in Mangaluru, the health department is all set to open a full-fledged laboratory at Puttur.
The new lab will have all the facilities to conduct RT-PCR and other tests, including malaria and dengue testss. The district administration has prepared an estimate of Rs 1 crore to set up the new lab, through the state disaster response fund (SDRF) in Puttur. Swabs for RT-PCR tests from taluk hospitals, community health centres and PHCs of Sullia, Puttur, Kadaba and Belthangady taluks will be sent to the new lab in Puttur, once it is opened. Similarly, the new lab will also function as the second district laboratory with all infrastructure. At present, swabs for RT-PCR tests from the region are being transported to KVG Medical College in Sullia, and Wenlock District Hospital in Mangaluru.
District health and family welfare officer Dr Kishore Kumar M told TOI that a preliminary survey of the Puttur taluk hospital buildings and surrounding areas have been conducted to set up the new lab.
“A project report with an estimate for the new lab in Puttur has already been prepared. Since the Puttur taluk hospital lacks sufficient space, we have plans to open the lab in one of the available buildings in its compound. We have plans to shift the RT-PCR unit from Sullia to Puttur. In addition, a request will also be sent to the government to sanction a new RT-PCR machine for the new lab in Puttur,” he said, adding that the new lab is expected to be opened within a month after the commencement of work.
“Though the number of tests being conducted in the district is reducing, we will be prepared with all infrastructure. The test positivity rate in Dakshina Kannada did not cross 2% after September 7. The number of daily cases in the district were also less than 200 in the past 10 days,’’ he said, adding the district has been conducting an average of 10,000 RT-PCR tests per day.
The district has eight laboratories conducting RT-PCR tests, including two government facilities at Wenlock District Hospital and KVG Medical College in Sullia, as well as six private labs. Nearly 80% of the RT-PCR tests are conducted in the government labs at Wenlock District Hospital and in Puttur.
The new lab will have all the facilities to conduct RT-PCR and other tests, including malaria and dengue testss. The district administration has prepared an estimate of Rs 1 crore to set up the new lab, through the state disaster response fund (SDRF) in Puttur. Swabs for RT-PCR tests from taluk hospitals, community health centres and PHCs of Sullia, Puttur, Kadaba and Belthangady taluks will be sent to the new lab in Puttur, once it is opened. Similarly, the new lab will also function as the second district laboratory with all infrastructure. At present, swabs for RT-PCR tests from the region are being transported to KVG Medical College in Sullia, and Wenlock District Hospital in Mangaluru.
District health and family welfare officer Dr Kishore Kumar M told TOI that a preliminary survey of the Puttur taluk hospital buildings and surrounding areas have been conducted to set up the new lab.
“A project report with an estimate for the new lab in Puttur has already been prepared. Since the Puttur taluk hospital lacks sufficient space, we have plans to open the lab in one of the available buildings in its compound. We have plans to shift the RT-PCR unit from Sullia to Puttur. In addition, a request will also be sent to the government to sanction a new RT-PCR machine for the new lab in Puttur,” he said, adding that the new lab is expected to be opened within a month after the commencement of work.
“Though the number of tests being conducted in the district is reducing, we will be prepared with all infrastructure. The test positivity rate in Dakshina Kannada did not cross 2% after September 7. The number of daily cases in the district were also less than 200 in the past 10 days,’’ he said, adding the district has been conducting an average of 10,000 RT-PCR tests per day.
The district has eight laboratories conducting RT-PCR tests, including two government facilities at Wenlock District Hospital and KVG Medical College in Sullia, as well as six private labs. Nearly 80% of the RT-PCR tests are conducted in the government labs at Wenlock District Hospital and in Puttur.
