Goa’s plans for genome sequencing lab hit permission hurdle

PANAJI: Goa’s plans for a genome sequencing laboratory at Goa Medical College may not see light of day due to difficulties faced in getting the required permissions for setting up the facility.
A senior health official said that the main reason Goa is unlikely to get permission is because a similar facility is available in Mumbai and Pune.
More than six months ago, health minister Vishwajit Rane had proposed the setting up of a genome sequencing facility at GMC after it was realised that there were inordinate delays in receiving reports from the National Institute of Virology (NIV) at Pune, where samples were routinely sent for genomic sequencing.
“Certain criteria have to be met for setting up of a regional laboratory and that’s why the approval has not been granted,” an official said.
Since March, although Goa sent randomly-selected samples to NIV, Pune, and subsequently to other laboratories, most reports were received more than a month later, and after the worst phase of the second wave ended.
The delta strain was found in 94% of the samples sent for genomic sequencing between March and June-July.
Presently, results of around 400 samples sent during last few months are awaited.
With the emergence of Omicron, the newly-found variant of the coronavirus, the official said it was very important that Goa received test reports immediately, or else some alternative arrangement has to be made so that carriers of the new variant are detected faster and the state can take immediate measures to contain its spread.
Dr Utkarsh Betodkar, state epidemiologist, said the latest samples or samples sent for testing after the discovery of Omicron will get priority, and results will be received faster.