National Institute of Virology (NIV) takes up H1N1 testing of Nagpur samples
The H1N1 testing of throat swab samples from Pune and Mumbai has stretched the staff at the National Institute of Virology (NIV) to such an
extent that samples coming in from other parts of the state are only now being taken up for testing.
Of the 80 samples sent to the NIV from Nagpur since last Thursday, only eight have been tested. Of these, three were positive.
The NIV, which has the capacity to test only 300 samples a day, has been receiving more than 600 samples daily. On Wednesday, the institute received a whopping 900 samples.
"The flow of samples has increased exponentially in the last few days, with most of them coming from Pune and Mumbai. We have started looking at samples from other parts of the state, like Nagpur, from today. Hopefully, the Nagpur backlog will be cleared by Thursday," NIV deputy director Mandeep Chadha told TOI on Wednesday.
After meeting the NIV director on Wednesday, the Pune district collectorate decided that the testing capacity of the NIV will be enhanced to around 400 samples per day. The swab testing capacity at Haffkine Institute in Mumbai, which is 40 samples per day, will also be enhanced to 140 samples.
The H1N1 testing of throat swab samples from Pune and Mumbai has stretched the staff at the National Institute of Virology (NIV) to such an
extent that samples coming in from other parts of the state are only now being taken up for testing.
Of the 80 samples sent to the NIV from Nagpur since last Thursday, only eight have been tested. Of these, three were positive.
The NIV, which has the capacity to test only 300 samples a day, has been receiving more than 600 samples daily. On Wednesday, the institute received a whopping 900 samples.
"The flow of samples has increased exponentially in the last few days, with most of them coming from Pune and Mumbai. We have started looking at samples from other parts of the state, like Nagpur, from today. Hopefully, the Nagpur backlog will be cleared by Thursday," NIV deputy director Mandeep Chadha told TOI on Wednesday.
After meeting the NIV director on Wednesday, the Pune district collectorate decided that the testing capacity of the NIV will be enhanced to around 400 samples per day. The swab testing capacity at Haffkine Institute in Mumbai, which is 40 samples per day, will also be enhanced to 140 samples.