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BBCI gets lab for COVID-19 tests

By Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, July 22 - Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today inaugurated a molecular virology laboratory for COVID-19 testing at the Dr B Borooah Cancer Institute (BBCI) here. The laboratory was developed by the State health and family welfare department under the National Health Mission, Assam.

Sarma said this state-of-the-art laboratory for COVID-19 testing has facilities like TrueNat two-step testing method.

�First, screening for Beta CoV E gene will be done and further confirmatory tests will be done by Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (SARS-CoV-2RdRP gene) test. Only samples screening positive for Beta CoV E gene will be tested for confirmation,� said Sarma.

Director of BBCI Dr Amal Chandra Kataki said so far 140 samples have been tested, of which 46 turned out to be positive in screening or in the first step, and then, 45 tested confirmatory positive for COVID-19.

The institute has also created a 26-bed dedicated COVID ward for cancer patients so that their cancer treatment is not delayed due to mandatory quarantine, he said.

Till now, 25 cancer patients with COVID-19 have been admitted for cancer directed treatment and one cancer patient with COVID-19 has been discharged after treatment.

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