Staff Reporter
ITANAGAR, May 4: Covid-19 tests have started at Tomo Riba Institute of Health & Medical Sciences (TRIHMS) in Naharlagun.
Responding to a question from this daily, Health Secretary P Parthiban said that testing started two days ago, and that it is for free.
Arunachal’s first Covid-19 QRT-PCR laboratory, at TRIHMS, was inaugurated on 30 April.
The state has so far tested 869 samples, with 46 being repeat tests.
On Monday, a total of 51 swab samples were collected, the highest, 46, being in the capital region, one each in Upper Subansiri and East Siang districts, and three in Namsai. Eight swabs were collected for retesting.
In total, the results of 105 are awaited.
TRIHMS nodal officer (microbiology) for the Covid-19 laboratory, Dr Mika Umpo, had earlier informed that
the state now has four types of diagnostic protocols with regard to Covid-19 identification, “which include rapid test, CB-NAAT, Truenat, and RT-PCR lab test or real-time PCR testing.”
“Rapid test and Truenat are needed only for screening purposes, while CB-NAAT is needed for conformity test. The RT-PCR lab test or real-time PCR testing is an advanced technique, and hence not all states can afford it,” he had informed.
The state remains Covid-19-free after the first patient was discharged on 16 April from the Tezu zonal general hospital.
