This story is from April 23, 2020

Four portable sample collection units on the move in Malkangiri

The Malkangiri district administration has started collecting samples from suspected Covid-19 patients through portable sample collection units.
Four portable sample collection units on the move in Malkangiri
Image used for representative purpose
KORAPUT: The Malkangiri district administration has started collecting samples from suspected Covid-19 patients through portable sample collection units.
Official sources said the portable unit mostly moving in border and remote areas resembles a public telephone booth, consists of a small cubicle mounted on a vehicle and can be taken to any location.
Keeping in view the geographical location of the district where villages are scattered, the mobile portable sample collection units have been very useful in collecting samples from suspected Covid-19 patients as they are no longer required to come to the district headquarters hospital, said Arun Kumar Padhi, chief district medical and public health officer, Malkangiri.

According to the officer, the administration has readied four portable sample collection units and the vehicles have been stationed at Motu, Malkangiri and Mathili from where they move for collection of samples. Each unit consists of a microbiologist, a laboratory-technician, a supervisor and a record keeping staff.
Official sources said the benefits of such units is many as one side of the unit is made up of glass with two holes where removable and disposable gloves are fitted from outside.
“This procedure of sample collection ensures safety of health workers while collecting samples from suspected persons. While using this method the health professionals don’t have to change their personal protective equipment after every sample is collected and social distancing is maintained,” said Padhi.

Official sources said the person from whom samples is to be taken is asked to come close to the portable unit and a health worker equipped with personal protective equipment stands inside the booth and collects his or her sample and follows the sanitisation process before the next sample is collected.
Till Wednesday, laboratory tests of as many as 204 out of the 348 suspected Covid-19 samples have been found to be negative.
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