Manipur IBSD hands over one RT-PCR machine to Mizoram

Our Correspondent

Imphal, June 6 (EMN): In a move to facilitate the Covid-19 testing laboratory set up at Mizoram’s Zoram Medical College in Aizawl, the Institute of Bio-resources and Sustainable Development (IBSD) handed over one Real-Time PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction), Covid-19 testing equipment to Mizoram, officials said on Saturday.

IBSD, which was established in 2001 with an objective to find scientific ways for the sustainable uses of bio resources and its protection to stop the depletion of the rich biodiversity in the Northeast, is a national institute under the department of Biotechnology, government of India located near Imphal.

It has its centres at Shillong, Gangtok and Aizawl as well.

According to an official of IBSD, Imphal, the testing equipment along with consumables were airlifted from Imphal airport by a helicopter arranged by the Mizoram government and the same was finally handed over to the authority of department of Science and Technology government of Mizoram by the scientists and staff at the Aizawl centre of IBSD on Friday.

“The equipment (RT-PCR) is one of the most accurate laboratory methods for detecting, tracking and studying the coronavirus,” the official said. “The equipment along with consumable items was lent on the request of government of Mizoram and Zoram Medical College.”

It may be mentioned that the IBSD under the guidance of its director Prof Pulok Kumar Mukherjee is supporting the Covid testing facilities at Manipur’s two premier medical institutes, namely Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) and Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS), by lending one Real-Time PCR and RNA extraction equipments along with some consumables to RIMS and JNIMS to reduce the testing load at their Virus Research and Diagnosis Laboratories (VRDL) in the first week of May.

Besides augmenting the Covid-19 testing capacities, IBSD has been helping the Covid testing facilities by sending their scientists and senior research fellows. With their support, the VRDLs of both the institutes managed to conduct more than a thousand tests in a day unlike the past.

Till the filing of this report, a total of 14,629 persons were tested for Covid-19 and 132 of them were found positive for Covid-19 while 41 have been discharged after recovery, according to a status report of state surveillance officer, Integrated Disease Surveillance Program.

Meanwhile Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga thanked the centre and IBSD authority for the equipment. In a tweet, he said,“Heartfelt thanks to Dr. Harsha Vardhanji, Union minister for Science and Technology and Prof Pulok Mukherjee, Director IBSD for arranging the much needed RT-PCR machine and consumables for the state of Mizoram. The much awaited diagnostic kit is a blessing.”