CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu now has a new whole genome sequencing lab which will help authorities identify and track variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19.
Chief minister M K Stalin on Tuesday inaugurated the lab at the state public health laboratory in Chennai.
As the virus multiplies, tiny changes or mutations accumulate in the genetic code. Though prevention and treatment of Covid-19 has remained the same across variants, changes in the genetic structures can sometimes expedite the spread.
So far, the state had been sending all samples to Bengaluru-based Instem as per recommendations from the Centre. Instem is part of INSACOG, which is a consortium of 10 labs that track the presence of variants in Covid samples.
“Test results are returned only after nearly one month and it also costs the state up to Rs 5,000 per sample,” health minister Ma Subramanian said.
The new lab would allow the testing of 1,000 samples at a time and results will be available in four hours.
The lab would also help track variants of vector-borne diseases and superbugs that are resistant to antibiotics, Subramanian said.
Information available with the public health department showed that the most common strain recorded in the state during the peak of the infection was Delta, like in most parts of the country.
